Trubowitz, Neal L. (Department of Anthropology, Indiana University- Indianapolis
)
HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY RESEARCH BY IU-INDIANAPOLIS,.1988
In 1988 the Anthropology Department of Indiana University at Indianapolis (IU-I)
undertook its third year of fieldwork as part of a long range research program
designed to investigate cultural interaction and change in central Indiana between
A.D. 1400 and 1850, particularly the effects of Euro-american and native American
contact in the Lafayette area of Tippecanoe County, Indiana.
The field research undertook floodplain and bluff reconnaissance on the south
side of the Wabash river, in the vicinity of the Wea village, 12 T 6. Seven new
prehistoric and historic loci were recorded, and six previously recorded sites
were revisited and systematically surveyed (including proton magnetometer work
at 12 T 4 on the bluffs overlooking the floodplain). The reconnaissance discovered
patterns of floodplain formation (deflation and scouring) which must be considered
in defining site boundaries, and evidence that deposition has buried the evidence
of most components predating the Late Woodland Period. Surface remains indicated
that the Wea village was located on the narrower end of the floodplain, and crops
probably were grown to the east of it toward Wea Creek.
Testing also was continued at the Wea village. This work included six two meter
square excavation units. A wide range of artifacts of both native and imported
manufacture were again recovered in association with abundant well-preserved faunal
remains. Two more features were recorded at the Wea village, but we found no clear
evidence of structures. Some areas of refuse midden and sheet midden have been
identified through these tests. The most common artifacts recovered in the excavations
were various decorations, including glass and shell beads, tinkling cones, and
silver ornaments.
In conjunction with the work on the native American occupations, we continued
the inventory of the 1968-1969 collections from Ft. Ouiatenon loaned by IU-Bloomington.
In spring we completed the initial inventory of the 1968-l969 collections, and
are now ready to move on to the materials recovered between 1971 and 1973.
Public outreach was enhanced with production of a popular brochure, an exhibit
at the Feast of the Hunter's Moon, and a half-hour video on the research. Professional
contacts were extended in the spring at a conference on French colonial archaeology
in Illinois and in the fall during a trip to Quebec City to visit archaeological
sites connected with government and commerce in New France.
Laboratory processing has continued into the fall, and we anticipate returning
to the bluffs behind the Wea village in the spring. Continuing collections research
and public education efforts also are planned as major elements of this integrated
research program. [return to 1988 abstracts menu][continue to next]