This thesis focuses on the distribution of prehistoric artifacts in Blackford County that were recovered during the course of two Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) Grants: FY 2011 HPF Grant # 31921-4 and FY 2012 HPF Grant # 18-12-41921-3. The research led to the discovery of 466 archaeological sites, but the focus of this thesis is not on the sites per se, but on the distribution of the prehistoric artifacts and an analysis of the associated behaviors. The basic question underlying this thesis is: (1) What is the distribution of human activity on the landscape of Blackford County? The related and subsidiary questions are: (2) How was the landscape being used in prehistoric times? (2a) What kinds of artifacts are found in association with others? The distribution of behaviors on the landscape may be determined by the association or disassociation of certain artifacts. (2b) What was the distance to water for all of these sites? Distance to water is important to measure because it indicates a basic necessity and it may be revealed through this analysis that certain behaviors are either closer or further from water sources. (2c) Are certain types of artifacts/behaviors associated with certain types of soils? (2d) Based on the distribution and morphology of lithic debitage, what can be said about cultural behaviors? The primary methods used in this thesis are a comprehensive metrical and morphological analysis of all prehistoric artifacts, GIS analysis of the distribution of these artifacts within their artifact types, and statistical analyses based on the GIS analysis looking for correlation and divergence among all of the artifacts. The resulting research from this thesis will greatly contribute to the knowledge of the Tipton Till Plain archaeology and further refine our understanding of the distribution of artifacts on the landscape of Blackford County, Indiana. The results indicate that the Mississinewa watershed was a persistently used area for residential activities and that the Salamonie watershed was repeatedly used as an area for resource extraction activities. / Department of Anthropology

In 1987, the Archaeological Resources Management Service (AXM6) at Ball State University conducted a sampling survey of a seven mile section of the Maumee River Valley in Allen County, Indiana. In addition to the primary survey, the project conducted an experiment in resurveying previously surveyed sample units, interviewed local collectors, and analyzed and tabulated data from a local collection with site level provenience. The project also reevaluated data previously collected from an adjacent section of the river valley and tested four sites in the latter study area.This study summarizes the data from the Maumee Grant Project and presents a general chronology of prehistoric habitation in the study area based upon that data. More specifically, this study has formulated provisional settlement models for the:PaleoIndian and Early Archaic habitation of the Upper Maumee River Valley, circa-10,000 to 6,000 B.C.The data indicate that the earliest peoples to inhabit the study area were Paleo-Indian bands with a preference for floodplain habitation and a subsistence strategy that emphasized hunting. As the post-glacial climate of the region ameliorated, the Early Archaic peoples that followed adapted a more diverse subsistence strategy, thus drawing upon a wider variety of terrace and floodplain resources. In contrast to their PaleoIndian forerunners, Early Archaic groups in the Upper Maumee Valley generally exhibited a preference for terrace habitation. In addition to the general Early Archaic occupation of the valley, three specific lithic traditions, the Kirk, the Bifurcate, and the Thebes, were identified and their settlement practices compared. While the origins of the earliest PaleoIndian bands in the region remained unclear, subsequent groups seem to have extended from and/or been influenced by Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene populations to the north, west, southwest, south, and east. By contributing to the regional data base and formulating provisional settlement models, this report provides a foundational basis for future research in the region. / Department of Anthropology

This study focuses on interpreting the archaeological evidence from the Huddleston House farmstead, in Wayne County, Indiana. Four generations of Huddleston families called the farmstead their home. A diachronic perspective is used to reconstruct the historic landscape and economic changes over time. This thesis uses statistical analysis of data contained within primary documents to gain historical context. Fluctuating economic conditions and the passing of the frontier greatly influenced local and regional roles within the larger global economy. This thesis explains the effects these changes had on farm families like the Huddlestons. Local economic trends are established through documentary analysis. Exploring the level of congruence between the Huddleston family and the local trend, and then using that information to interpret the archaeological evidence was the goal of this research. In addition, archaeological evidence is used to link specific households to specific deposits. / Theory and methods -- Regional culture history and literature review -- Huddleston extended family history -- Historical context : nineteenth century regional and global agricultural trend -- Historical context : reconstructing local econmic trends -- Archaeological analysis -- Secondary analysis and interpretatio. / Department of Anthropology

The proposed thesis titled “Core and Periphery in the Middle Woodland Midwest: An Analysis of the Earthworks of East Central Indiana and South-Central Ohio” will examine Middle Woodland earthwork sites in South Central Ohio and East Central Indiana. Expanding upon current ideas about core and periphery currently used by many prehistoric archaeologists this thesis hopes to change the way archaeologists define core and periphery by putting core and periphery into the proper context of a mini-system. Using the original works of Wallerstein and his vaguely defined concept of a mini-system and further defining this concept through examination of the notion of a gift based economy this thesis hopes to discern not only core and periphery areas in the Middle Woodland Midwest, but also to discern if one mini-system or multiple mini-systems existed in the Middle Woodland Midwest. Through analysis of quantitative data gathered from the Scioto, Licking, Upper White, and Big Blue River valleys the thesis will demonstrate new methodologies for establishing the extant of mini-systems. Statistical analysis to be used includes linear regression testing and the analysis of power law distributions. These tests, coupled with analysis of the data sets, using a comparative framework, are hoped to provide deeper analysis of core and periphery relationships / The prehistoric eastern woodlands, Middle Woodland archaeology and core/periphery -- Core and periphery in non-capitalist societies -- Maps, mounds and measurements -- Results from maps, mounds and measurements -- Core and periphery, Middle Woodland mini-systems and the Midwest : south central Ohio and east central Indiana discerned. / Department of Anthropology

Archaeological investigations of the Gronauer lock #2 revealed the presence of the well-preserved lower portion of the lock and associated cribbing. Clearing of the fill in the lock proper and wing area and test excavations in the southern cribbing provided important details on the construction of the lock which were not completely consistent with the historical documentation and building specifications. Few artifacts directly associated with the construction and use of the lock were found although significant numbers of secondarily deposited artifacts from the adjacent lockkeeper's house were recovered. Dating of the artifacts was consistent with the recorded history of the construction and use of the lock. In general, without the physical details recovered through the archaeological investigations, interpretations of the site from the written records alone would have presented an inaccurate view of the actual situation.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306 / Department of Anthropology

A detailed investigation of a feature from a Phase II Archaeological Survey is undertaken and described. This feature of unusual shape and size is excavated and interpreted through archaeological and research methodologies to give a better evaluation for the Phase II investigation and a much more comprehensive study of the people who formed this feature in the mid-1800's. The artifacts recovered associated with the documented history gives a view of that time period that shows the history of a particular tract of land - site 12Ma648, Lawrence Township, Marion County, Indiana. From the government's land patent deed in 1826 to the government's reacquisition of the property in 1903, the site's occupants have left evidence of their existence and afforded a unique opportunity to study the lives of early Indiana settlers. / Department of Anthropology

The purpose of this project was to determine if the human skeletal remains of two distinct Native American cemeteries, found in close geographic proximity, represent the same population. These archaeological sites are similar in location and artifacts. Burial practices, however, vary between the sites. These differences may represent class distinction or a difference in the times the cemeteries were used. Radiocarbon techniques have given dates of AD 230±300 and AD 635±105 for these two sites. Several methods of DNA isolation were compared for their ability to yield PCR amplifiable DNA. DNA isolation using a combination of CTAB and phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (24:24:1) provided the best results and yielded amplifiable DNA form two individuals, Hn I (8F-410) and Hn 10 ( 27F-8-14 b). Purification of the DNA by extraction from low melting agarose gel was required prior to PCR, and PCR conditions were optimized to maximize the DNA yields. Regions of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome of isolated DNA were amplified by PCR using primers which are specific for the HincII region of the mtDNA genome. Inability of restriction enzyme HincII to digest the amplified DNA of these two individuals suggested that they belong to the Native American mtDNA lineage C characterized by the loss of this restriction site. / Department of Anthropology

This study is an assessment of the archaeological resources found at the Richardville/LaFountaine house in Huntington County, Indiana. This thesis documents the historic artifact assemblage found at the Richardville/LaFountaine house through background research and chronological dating of the artifacts. It also compares these materials to those found on the Troyer site, and it examines patterns present at the house site.Analysis of the artifacts established a chronology for them and established patterns of refuse disposal. Analysis also established similarities and differences between artifacts found at the Troyer site. / Department of Anthropology

There is no abstract available for this thesis. / Department of Anthropology

An archaeological survey was carried out for the Mississinewa Reservoir, located southwest of Peru in central Indiana. The goals of this study were to locate and evaluate a sample of the archaeological resources of the Mississinewa Reservoir area and to evaluate the impact of the reservoir and its management on those resources. During the course of the survey, 107 sites representing the Paleo-Indian, Early Archaic, Late Archaic, Middle Woodland, Late Woodland, and historic periods were recorded, while the general locations of several historic Native American sites were extracted from various sources. The distribution of prehistoric sites suggests that the presence of extensive chert bearing outcrops of Liston Creek limestone played an important role in the selection of site location. The impact of the reservoir on the archaeological resources of the reservoir is discussed as data is currently being lost by artifact collecting, and erosion due to cultivation and fluctuations in the reservoir pool.