Mary Ann Cole Site (12CR1) 1977

The USACE, Louisville District obtained this investigation through an archaeological test excavation at the Mary Ann Cole Site (12CR1) in 1977 undertaken by the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, Indiana University. The Mary Ann Cole Site is located on a fluvial terrace at the confluence of the Ohio River and Blue River in Crawford County, Indiana (Guendling 1977). The Mary Ann Cole, 1977 investigation was undertaken to ascertain cultural deposits prior to planned development of the site (Guendling 1977). The 1976 investigation found the site’s western boundary indefinable due to the presence of the abandoned Corp of Engineers Lock and Dam Number 44 structures. The Mary Ann Cole Site had already been severely damaged by erosion of the riverbanks, it was apparent that the erosive force would completely destroy the site in a matter of years. This area was scheduled to become USACE, Public Use Site 8A and 9, for the Cannelton Locks and Dam Master Plan Development. The proposed construction would destroy the remaining portions of the Mary Ann Cole Site (Guendling 1977). As a result, various archaeological investigations of the site took place from 1976 through 1981 (Myers 1981).

Neal Jenkins and Marc Rucker were the two principle investigators during the 1976 investigation. The only known alterations to the Mary Ann Cole Site, other than continuing erosion, are test excavations conducted in 1976 by USACE archaeologist James W. McMichael (McMichael 1976) and in 1977 by Indiana University.

The digital materials in this collection were processed by the Veterans Curation Program (VCP), and include the artifact database, artifact report, finding aid, oversized materials database, scanned asset key, and select artifact photographs. Additional digital materials held by the VCP includes additional artifact photographs, box inventories, card stock inserts, document folder listing, GBL artifact inventory, GBL catalog, initial data collection, notes, oversized labels, photographic material spreadsheet, and records removal sheet. For additional information on these materials, refer to the Finding Aid.