Archaeological findings could influence plans for Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail

[Chrisstina Thulion]

Archaeological findings could influence plans for Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail

By Chris Quay • cquay@courier-journal.com  • September 3, 2009

Sifting through soil dug from nearly five feet underground Perry Harrell and Leon Hostetler found remnants of a vanished culture.
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“There’s a lot of burned soil,” Hostetler said.

Known by archaelogists as “lithic debris,” the burnt soil indicates a Native American pit used for fires or storing pottery.

The two men were working along a stretch of Emery Crossing in Clarksville Thursday as part of an archaeological survey coordinated by the Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. The survey will help determine how the Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail, scheduled for construction in 2011, is built.

“We’re finding much more than I thought we would,” said the survey’s leader, Cheryl Ann Munson, a research scientist with Indiana University’s Department of Anthropology.

The trail, which will make up part of the Ohio River Greenway, will begin at George Rogers Clark Park, near Bailey Avenue, and travel along Harrison Avenue and Emery Crossing, said Brian Kaluzny, superintendent for Clarksville Parks and Recreation.

The trail will bring more foot traffic to parts of Clarksville with significant historical importance, Kaluzny said. The trail’s design will be influenced by what the survey discovers.

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“The archaeology survey is the first step,” he said.

The area where the trail is planned is surrounded by ground that has been disturbed by construction and development, Munson said.

The trail will be “an incredible gem” for the area, but saving the ground that holds so much history of early settlers and pre-historic culture is very important, she said. The survey was planned to find out what could be done to preserve it.

About 10 contractors and volunteers dug holes and sifted through dirt Thursday.

“We have found continual evidence of early prehistoric culture,” said Harrell, a local archaeologist who was contracted by Indiana University to be the project’s field director.

Marlon Obando’s hole produced bones and artifacts. “It’s interesting to see what’s going on here,” he said.

More than 80 holes roughly 50 feet apart will have been dug by the time the survey is finished, which should be by the end of the week, Harrell said. The holes are small, about 20 inches by 20 inches, and a little more than a yard deep.

Several remnants of chert, also known as “flint flakes,” and small bits of pottery have been found inside the holes, Harrell said.

The material is then bagged and marked for analysis.

Munson said the survey’s findings will be reviewed by the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.

“This is a historic preservation district we’re in, so we want to preserve it,” she said.

Reporter Chris Quay can be reached at (502) 582-4241.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090903/NEWS02/909030341/1025/Archaeological+findings+could+influence+plans+for+Lewis+and+Clark+Heritage+Trail

[Chrisstina Thulion]

Reed Dilley, a contractor, brought dirt out of a hole dug seeking samples. (By Bill Luster, The Courier-Journal) September 3, 2009

[Chrisstina Thulion]

Leon Hostetler, left, Perry Harrell, and George Weidner went through dirt samples. (By Bill Luster, The Courier-Journal) September 3, 2009