ROI047, Public Displays and Private Tasks: Nineteenth-Century Landscape Utilization at the Morris-Butler House

Summary

An archaeological excavation at the Morris-Butler House Museum, Indianapolis, Indiana was conducted under a Department of the Interior Historic Preservation Survey and Planning Grant administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. The purpose of the project was to investigate loci of domestic activity in the yards surrounding the house.

The museum staff seeks to incorporate exterior spaces of the property into their interpretation of nineteenth-century life at the Morris-Butler House. Preliminary investigation revealed that archaeological deposits were present in the side yard south of the summer kitchen and along the western edge of the north lot. These areas were the focus of archaeological excavation.

The artifacts and other data recovered provided additional information regarding nineteenth­ century landscaped utilization at the property. This report describes the excavation, the material recovered, and its contribution to understanding the lives of nineteenth-century residents at the Morris-Butler House.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• BSUAAL Reports of Investigations

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Kevin Nolan; Applied Anthropology Laboratories, Ball State University

Contributor(s): Mark Boatwright; Rachel Mancini

Principal Investigator(s): Donald R. Cochran

Repository(s): Applied Anthropology Laboratories, Ball State University

Prepared By(s): Archaeological Resources Management Service, Ball State University

Submitted To(s): Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Record Identifiers

Reports of Investigation(s): 047

File Information