ROI053, Rockshelter Survey and Testing in the Hemlock Cliffs and Mesmore Cliffs Areas of the Hoosier National Forest, Crawford County, Indiana, Volume One
Creators: name: Waters, Nikki A.
name: Cochran, Donald R.
Publisher: name: Archaeological Resources Management Service, Ball State University
Year: 1999
Subjects: subject: Crawford County
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/78007/crawford-county
subject: Indiana
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/44778/indiana
subject: Middle Woodland
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/15/middle-woodland
subject: KIRK
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/3704/kirk
subject: Terminal Middle Woodland
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/9400/terminal-middle-woodland
subject: Early Archaic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/9/early-archaic
subject: Historic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/25/historic
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: 12Cr60
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121006/12cr60
subject: 12Cr59
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121005/12cr59
subject: 12Cr62
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121008/12cr62
subject: 12Cr61
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121007/12cr61
subject: 12Cr66
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121010/12cr66
subject: 12Cr64
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121009/12cr64
subject: 12Cr69
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121012/12cr69
subject: 12Cr67
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121011/12cr67
subject: 12Cr71
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121014/12cr71
subject: 12Cr70
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121013/12cr70
subject: 12Cr72
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121015/12cr72
subject: 12Cr37
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120984/12cr37
subject: 12Cr321
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120983/12cr321
subject: 12Cr385
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120986/12cr385
subject: 12Cr38
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120985/12cr38
subject: 12Cr40
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120988/12cr40
subject: 12Cr39
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120987/12cr39
subject: 12Cr467
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120990/12cr467
subject: 12Cr41
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120989/12cr41
subject: 12Cr469
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120992/12cr469
subject: 12Cr468
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120991/12cr468
subject: 12Cr471
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120994/12cr471
subject: 12Cr470
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120993/12cr470
subject: 12Cr473
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120996/12cr473
subject: 12Cr472
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120995/12cr472
subject: 12Cr475
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120998/12cr475
subject: 12Cr474
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120997/12cr474
subject: 12Cr477
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121000/12cr477
subject: 12Cr476
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/120999/12cr476
subject: 12Cr479
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121002/12cr479
subject: 12Cr478
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121001/12cr478
subject: 12Cr481
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121004/12cr481
subject: 12Cr480
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/121003/12cr480
subject: Cemetery
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/302/cemetery
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: Rock Shelter
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/265/rock-shelter
subject: Factory / Workshop
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/281/factory-workshop
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: Textile
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/16/textile
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: 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: 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: An archaeological investigation of rockshelters in the Hemlock Cliffs and Mesmore Cliffs areas of the Hoosier National Forest in Crawford County, Indiana was conducted during the summers of 1997 and 1998. During the 1997 project, six previously recorded rockshelters were resurveyed, one previously unrecorded rockshelter was surveyed, two open sites (12-Cr-321 and 12-Cr-385) were tested, and one large rockshelter, (12-Cr-59, Indian Cave) was tested. In 1998, thirteen new rockshelters and two open sites were surveyed, six previously recorded rockshelters were resurveyed, and additional testing was conducted at 12-Cr-321 and 12-Cr-59. Although additional artifacts were only recovered from one previously recorded rockshelter, the survey and resurvey of rockshelters did result in better documentation of these sites. The 1997 testing of 12-Cr-321 and 12-Cr-385, recovered chipped stone artifacts, but no features were found. Site 12- Cr-385 was not considered potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and no additional work was conducted. Although the units excavated in 12-Cr-321 during 1997 did not encounter features, the portion of the site immediately in front of the entrance to Indian Cave appeared to have the potential for buried deposits, especially under the collapsed former entrance of Indian Cave. Additional excavation of this area was conducted in 1998, although units could not be excavated deep enough to determine the presence of an older, buried surface. Testing within Indian Cave in 1997 and 1998 revealed that at least one buried in situ cultural zone is present and a variety of artifacts, floral and fauna! materials were recovered. Although no intact burials were identified, fragmentary human remains were recovered from Zone VI and from a rodent run in the north of the shelter. Additional artifacts, floral and faunal materials were recovered from exposed zones; however, extensive looting and recreational activities may place them in a secondary context. In addition, analysis of the silt deposits within Indian Cave suggests that these exposed, silt-bearing zones are alluvial and colluvial in origin. Despite the small testing sample and the amount of disturbance, the site still appears to contain significant archaeological deposits and would therefore appear to be eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to the fieldwork, background research indicated that almost 800 rockshelters and caves are recorded as archaeological sites within Indiana, but fewer than 15 have been tested. The lack of excavation and analysis of rockshelters combined with the results of this project amply demonstrates the desperate need for systematic and focused research on these important sites.