Archaeology Month

The Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology thanks the following organizations for permission to use images in the 2025 poster design: Gray & Pape, Inc., Indianapolis Airport Authority, and Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc.

Beginning at the top left of the poster and moving clockwise:

1. This image shows an archaeologist conducting electrical resistance survey. This work was part of Phase 1a archaeological documentation and geophysical survey of the Hardy Sparks Cemetery (12GR1713) in Greene County. The small rural cemetery dates from the mid-nineteenth century, and this investigation was in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act as part of the Interstate 69 construction project.

   The report (Trader 2010:32) states that “when looking inside the historical cemetery boundaries, a broad pattern, consistent with the orientation of the markers, was identified within the electrical resistance data. As is the case with older cemeteries, the definition of exact grave boundaries can be difficult within the resistance data. This difficulty is in some regards to be expected, due to the continual mixing of the soil by roots and animals that slowly obscured the once obvious edges of grave shafts. While it is difficult to define perfect grave shafts, as indicated above, there is a pattern sufficient enough to allow for some understanding of potential placement of graves.” Trader (2010:i) also states “The boundaries of the cemetery were determined based on geophysical survey . . . Within these boundaries, the geophysical survey identified nine anomalies and four possible anomalies that represent the locations of grave shafts.”

2. This DHPA image shows a typical scene in a rural Hoosier cemetery. It is possible to see grave makers of various sizes, styles, and materials, in addition to architectural features such as mausoleums, iron fences, etc., when visiting these important places. Learn more about cemeteries in our state.
3. Sadly, headstones can be impacted by vandalism, lack of proper maintenance, weathering, and more. This image (Drew and Peterson 2023:191) shows an epoxy mix being applied during headstone reconstruction. The pieces of this stone were found during archaeological investigation related to the relocation of the Bethel Cemetery (12MA1025) to its new location within the Concordia Cemetery in Indianapolis. Sometimes construction projects are unable to avoid a cemetery, and the cemetery is relocated according to the relevant requirements in state and federal laws.
4. When archaeological relocation of a historic cemetery takes place, so much may be learned about the period’s burial practices and material culture. This decorative white metal coffin ornament (1875-1889) reflects an example of the symbolism of the times by featuring a hand with a blooming rose. This example was recovered and documented during archaeological excavations (Drew and Peterson 2023) for the Bethel Cemetery project as well and was reburied with the relevant individual in their grave in its new location.
5. As would be expected, clothing related artifacts may be found when a grave is investigated. The bone buttons shown on the poster were recovered during the archaeological investigation of graves in the McGary’s Burial Ground (12VG2126) in downtown Evansville. Based upon the recovered materials, the individuals buried there were probably interred not later than ca. 1850 (Bybee and Martin 2023:12). The headstone fragment was also recovered from this burial area.
6. Types of vintage coffin hardware are often found during archaeological investigations of Euroamerican cemeteries. This example of a single lug swingbail coffin handle was part of a grave investigated during the Bethel Cemetery relocation. Per the report (Drew and Peterson 2023:350) for that project:

Single lug swingbails were generally designed for infants’ or young children’s coffins and caskets; this pattern held true at Bethel Cemetery as all twenty burials containing single lug swingbails were from young subadult interments. This age-specific use was also reflected in the lamb and sun motif commonly found in contemporary catalogues and comparable archaeological assemblage.

This poster has been funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. The project received federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. However, the contents and opinions contained in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Government or the U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Government or the U.S. Department of the Interior. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity National Park Service 1849 C Street, N.W. MS-2740, Washington, D.C. 20240.

References

Bybee, Alexandra D., and Andrew V. Martin
2023- Management Summary: Excavations Associated with McGary’s Burial Ground (12Vg2126) and a Portion of the Wabash and Erie Canal (12Vg2127), Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., Evansville, Indiana.

Drew, Brooke L., and Ryan J. Peterson
2023- You Who Were Young Twice and Twice Received a Tomb. The Bethel Cemetery Relocation Project. Stantec, Indianapolis, IN.

Trader, Patrick D.
2010- Phase 1a Archaeological Documentation and Geophysical Survey of the Hardy Sparks Cemetery (12Gr1713), Section 4, I-69 Evansville to Indianapolis, Greene County, Indiana. Gray & Pape, Inc., Bloomington, IN.