ROI067, The Fudge Site: A New Look at an Ancient Monument Randolph County, Indiana
Creators: name: McCord, Beth K.
Publisher: name: Archaeological Resources Management Service, Ball State University
Year: 2006
Subjects: subject: Randolph County
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/85416/randolph-county
subject: Indiana
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/44778/indiana
subject: Early Woodland
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/14/early-woodland
subject: Bluegrass
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/846/bluegrass
subject: Middle Woodland
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/15/middle-woodland
subject: Riverton
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/7057/riverton
subject: Glacial Kame
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/9394/glacial-kame
subject: Jerger Phase
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/9395/jerger-phase
subject: Lost Lake
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/9396/lost-lake
subject: Maple Creek Phase
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/9398/maple-creek-phase
subject: Red Ocher
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/9399/red-ocher
subject: KIRK
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/3704/kirk
subject: Historic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/25/historic
subject: THEBES
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/4452/thebes
subject: French Lick Phase
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/5318/french-lick-phase
subject: Early Archaic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/9/early-archaic
subject: Unidentified Prehistoric
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/9385/unidentified-prehistoric
subject: Middle Archaic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/10/middle-archaic
subject: Late Archaic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/11/late-archaic
subject: Hopewell
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/12/hopewell
subject: 12R328
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121074/12r328
subject: 12R10
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121073/12r10
subject: 12R555
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121076/12r555
subject: 12R554
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121075/12r554
subject: 12R557
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121078/12r557
subject: 12R556
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121077/12r556
subject: 12R559
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121080/12r559
subject: 12R558
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121079/12r558
subject: 12R561
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121082/12r561
subject: 12R560
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121081/12r560
subject: 12R563
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121084/12r563
subject: 12R562
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121083/12r562
subject: 12R565
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121086/12r565
subject: 12R564
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121085/12r564
subject: 12R567
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121088/12r567
subject: 12R566
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121087/12r566
subject: 12R569
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121090/12r569
subject: 12R568
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121089/12r568
subject: 12R571
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121092/12r571
subject: 12R570
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121091/12r570
subject: 12R573
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121094/12r573
subject: 12R572
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121093/12r572
subject: 12R575
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121096/12r575
subject: 12R574
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121095/12r574
subject: 12R577
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121098/12r577
subject: 12R576
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121097/12r576
subject: 12R578
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121099/12r578
subject: Funerary and Burial Structures or Features
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/301/funerary-and-burial-structures-or-features
subject: Cemetery
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/302/cemetery
subject: House
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/259/house
subject: Mound / Earthwork
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/323/mound-earthwork
subject: Artifact Scatter
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/340/artifact-scatter
subject: Isolated Artifact
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/344/isolated-artifact
subject: Historic Communal / Public Structure
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/316/historic-communal-public-structure
subject: Shell
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/14/shell
subject: Wood
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/15/wood
subject: Ceramic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/1/ceramic
subject: Chipped Stone
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2/chipped-stone
subject: Fauna
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/4/fauna
subject: Fire Cracked Rock
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/5/fire-cracked-rock
subject: Glass
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/6/glass
subject: Building Materials
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/8/building-materials
subject: Human Remains
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/9/human-remains
subject: Metal
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/11/metal
subject: Reconnaissance / Survey
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/7/reconnaissance-survey
subject: Geophysical Survey
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/23/geophysical-survey
subject: Site Evaluation / Testing
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/10/site-evaluation-testing
subject: Systematic Survey
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/12/systematic-survey

description: The Archaeological Resources Management Service (ARMS) at Ball State University conducted a FY2005 Historic Preservation Fund Grant to investigate the Fudge site. This project reviewed the archaeological setting, changes in landuse, and involved pedestrian surveys of the enclosure and surrounding area, an instrument survey of portions of the site, and limited test excavations along the northern embankment wall. The main objective of the project was to further our understanding of Early/Middle Woodland ceremonial and settlement systems in eastern Indiana and the Ohio River Valley through investigations of the Fudge site chronology, construction and function.
The project recorded 27 archaeological sites through pedestrian survey of approximate 170 acres. Besides the Fudge site, a Late Archaic lithic scatter (12R328), the old Randolph County Fairground (12R10 and 554) and a historic structure (12R578) were recommended for further investigation. The pedestrian surveys confirmed the absence of large amounts of habitation debris within the enclosure and found only tentative examples of Middle Woodland occupation in the nearby area.
Investigations at the Fudge site documented that over half of the embankment walls were visible although they were reduced significantly in height. Subsurface anomalies relating to the excavated mound and the plowed-down western gateway extension were documented through magnetometer surveys. Excavations recovered few artifacts but three radiocarbon dates ranging between cal 110 BC to AD 220 were obtained. The radiocarbon dates and the stratigraphy suggest multiple stages of construction involving preparation of the original ground surface and construction of the northern embankment wall from locally available soils.
Further understanding of Early/Middle Woodland ceremonial and settlement systems were obtained through investigations of the Fudge site chronology, construction and function. From all the information we have collected from the east central Indiana earthworks, it is apparent that they are part of a regional network. The clear regional pattern in chronology, sites, artifacts, mortuary practices and ceremonialism led to the redefinition of the New Castle Phase.
In sum, the project confirmed that important archaeological information still exists within the Fudge site and it was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. The site has already yielded important information in Early and Middle Woodland prehistory and contains intact, unexplored deposits that may further our understanding of the site.