ROI089, Archaeological Resource Assessment, Mounds Lake “Pre-NEPA” Study, Madison and Delaware Counties, Indiana

Summary

The Applied Anthropology Laboratories (AAL) in the Department of Anthropology at Ball State University was contracted by DLZ to undertake a “Pre-NEPA” level of investigation of cultural resources that may be affected by the proposed Mounds Lake dam and reservoir. The proposed reservoir will cover approximately 2,456 acres and extending seven miles along the White River from Anderson in Madison County, Indiana, to the vicinity of Daleville in Delaware County, Indiana. In this report, we present a summary of the setting, context, and current state of knowledge of the region’s archaeological resources. Consideration of the historic structures potentially impacted by the proposed undertaking was addressed by a separate report (McCarthy 2014). The proposed Mounds Lake reservoir is within a high density area of archaeological resources with approximately 200 sites representing over 290 separate occupations already identified. There are many potential gaps in archaeological knowledge and important research questions that could be addressed by the archaeological resources that will be affected by the proposed reservoir. Particularly, resources from the Middle Archaic, Early Woodland, Middle Woodland, and Historic periods are underrepresented. Of particular importance is the impact of the proposed reservoir on the resources (historic and prehistoric) of Mounds State Park. The proposed undertaking will substantially alter the setting of National Register of Historic Places listed (NHRP) properties in the park, and may pose a threat to the preservation of these resources in the future. Further, the relationship between this unique earthwork complex and the surrounding contemporaneous prehistoric communities is a prime research question to be addressed in any future work.

It is anticipated that between 319 and 1498 archaeological sites will be identified through surface reconnaissance within the pool. Of these, an estimated 30 to 40 percent will require additional evaluation and/or mitigation beyond the Phase Ia level. Additionally, approximately 1 percent of the proposed pool (24.57 acres, 9.94 ha) will need to undergo subsurface reconnaissance (Phase Ic).

It is recognized that additional areas for borrow, construction access and staging, etc. will be involved in the construction of the project. However, their locations and extent are not known at this time, and therefore their impact is not considered in this report.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• BSUAAL Reports of Investigations

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

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

Principal Investigator(s): Kevin C. Nolan

Sponsor(s): DLZ

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

Prepared By(s): Applied Anthropology Laboratories, Ball State University

Submitted To(s): DLZ

Record Identifiers

Reports of Investigation(s): 089

AAL Project #(s): 14SP001

File Information