THE FUDGE SITE: A NEW LOOK AT AN ANCIENT MONUMENT RANDOLPH COUNTY, INDIANA by Beth K. McCord with sections by Donald R. Cochran Reports of Investigation 67 June 2006 Archaeological Resources Management Service Ball State University Muncie, Indiana 47306 THE FUDGE SITE: A NEW LOOK AT AN ANCIENT MONUMENT RANDOLPH COUNTY, INDIANA by Beth K. McCord with sections by Donald R. Cochran Reports of Investigation 67 June 2006 Archaeological Resources Management Service Ball State University Muncie, Indiana 47306 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF STATE AND FEDERAL ASSISSTANCE This project has received federal financial assistance for the identification, protection and/or rehabilitation of historic properties and cultural resources in the State of Indiana. However, the contents and opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the Department of the Interior. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin or disability 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 for Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240. i ACKNOWLEDEMENTS The report is dedicated to Mr. Bob Manning. Our work at the Fudge site would not have been possible without Bobby’s effort and support throughout this entire project. Bobby invested a great deal of his time in this project. We learned a lot from each other over the last year. We will always be in his debt. I would like to thank the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology and Ball State University for providing the monetary support for this project. This project was funded in part by a Department of the Interior grant administered by the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Special thanks to Amy Johnson and Malia Savarino for your assistance on this project. Matching funds for this project were furnished by Ball State University. Thanks to Jay Javed in Contracts and Grants at Ball State for managing the accounting for this project. I want to recognize the kindness and cooperation of the landowners involved in the project. The Fudge site encompasses several landowners and we would have never been able to complete our work without your help and understanding. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Ashley, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Fisher, Mr. Randy Hahn, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hahn, Mr. David Howard and Mr. Herbie Meinerding, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher even donated an artifact collection to ARMS. Mr. Howard lost his struggle with cancer during this project, but we will always be grateful for his interest. He got the ball rolling when we needed landowner permission. I also want to express my appreciation to the residents of Winchester and Randolph County. We had numerous visitors stop and talk to us when we were working at the site. Thanks to everyone that shared your information. Mr. Halbert Cox donated early photographs he had of the site. Mrs. Monisa Wisener of the Randolph County Historic Musuesm graciously opened the doors of the museum for a presentation and allowed us access to the artifact collections. We also received a wonderful response to local presentations. Of course completing this project fell on the shoulders of the students, staff and volunteers that finished the work. The field crew consisted of Brad King, Jan Northam, Jaime Meece, Liz Haeuptle, and Chris Guillon. Volunteers that gracious donated their time and effort were Cameron Cox, Denise Powers and Holly Juip. Denise also worked on graphics for the project. Students that helped with the initial instrument and magnetometer surveys were Jan Northam, Marla Reece-Hall and Bill Gross. The laboratory work was completed by Jamie Whitaker and Nicole Schneider. I would like to acknowledge Brad King for his diligent research for background information and the public program and poster he gave in June. Brad also provided the information for determining the volume of soil in enclosure wall using the formula for ½ a cylinder. Nicole Schneider calculated the slope formula used in determining the volume of soil in enclosure wall. Jan Northam was indispensable in completing the project, giving two ii public presentations, working on the education presentation and conducting the phosphate analysis of embankment soils. As always, Mitch Zoll and Don Cochran provided any and all assistance throughout this project. Mitch kept the payroll and student schedules straight. Don offered his arguments and encouragement. His direction and editing of the report were essential. Thank you both. Finally, thanks to the Fudge site for revealing some of yourself to us. iii ABSTRACT 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. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF STATE AND FEDERAL ASSISSTANCE ....................... i ACKNOWLEDEMENTS................................................................................................... ii ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................v LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES...............................................................................................................x INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................4 Environmental Setting .................................................................................................... 4 Location ...................................................................................................................... 4 Geology....................................................................................................................... 5 Glacial History............................................................................................................ 5 Physiography............................................................................................................... 6 Water Resources ......................................................................................................... 6 Soils............................................................................................................................. 7 Flora ............................................................................................................................ 8 Fauna........................................................................................................................