Natural Setting. The natural setting for archaeological sites excavated under this data recovery plan will be examined (prior to conducting further excavation) in the appropriate existing documentation and in the field. A verbal description of the natural setting will accompany maps and photographs in the final reporting of the site. Midwestern archaeological studies have noted a preference among early Euro-American pioneers to build their first homes along timber- prairie borders. Environmental factors, such as protection from the elements and proximity to timber, water, and wild animal resources, and cultural factors, such as origin of the settler and proximity to roads, both affect the placement of early settlement homes and farms. General Land Office survey and plat maps, coupled with native vegetation information from county soil surveys, assist in the reconstruction of local environments during the early settlement era. In much of the State, survey maps were created prior to and immediately following the initial Euro-American settlement. Government land transfer and original land entries/patents provide information about locations of early settlements. Further information from county history books, census data, and assorted primary source documents such as letters and diaries can also assist in reconstruction of the environmental and cultural factors affecting individual and group settlement. Aerial photographs and modern maps (US Geological Survey, USDA soil survey, etc.) provide documentation of more recent environmental conditions. Summary of Previous Investigations In general, sites to be investigated under this data recovery plan were recorded by ISAS personnel during the Phase I survey of the proposed project area. When necessary, existing archaeological and historical property lists will be consulted and oral histories conducted to fully develop a site’s history and aid in locating possible features and an understanding of a site’s stratigraphy and distribution across the landscape. Phase I testing at the site will have revealed the presence of intact cultural material and the site’s potential to significantly contribute to the history of this area in order to warrant additional investigation. Research Design The data generated by excavations at the historic site(s) will be used to examine at least three broad topics: (1) settlement patterns and land distribution; (2) architecture; and (3) subsistence practices. Insights into changing patterns of community org...
Natural Setting. The natural setting for archaeological sites excavated under this data recovery plan will be examined (prior to conducting further excavation) in the appropriate existing documentation (such as the Geological Survey Soil Survey) and in the field. A verbal description of the natural setting will accompany maps and photographs in the final reporting of the site. Summary of Previous Investigations In general, sites to be investigated under this data recovery plan were recorded by ISAS personnel during the Phase I survey of the proposed project area. When necessary, existing archaeological and historical property lists will be consulted and oral histories conducted to fully develop a site’s history and aid in locating possible features and an understanding of a site’s stratigraphy and distribution across the landscape. Phase I testing at the site will have revealed the presence of intact cultural material and the site’s potential to significantly contribute to our understanding of the prehistory of this area in order to warrant additional investigation.
