Here's What Archaeologists Learned At Versailles State Park

Over 1,000 historic artifacts were found during a survey of historic sites in the park last summer.

Ball State University graduate assistant Connor McCoy delivers a presentation at Versailles State Park's visitors center on Friday, April 5. Photo provided.

(Versailles, Ind.) - More than two dozen new new archaeological sites were identified inside Versailles State Park during a survey by Ball State University archaeologists. 

Ball State's Applied Anthropology Laboratories showed off the findings from their August 2018 survey of the park during a presentation at the park's visitors center on Friday, April 5. The presentation was given by graduate assistant Connor McCoy.

Christina Hahn, staff archaeologist, says the Ball State anthropology students received some hands-on experience with archaeological surveying. Staff were also part of the dig.

"The goals of this project were to investigate any previous occupations of the park, particularly the 19th and early 20th century inhabitants that resided where the park is now located. Also, a goal of this project was to help the park to develop material for interpretative signage that would display the parks history. This projects was developed by using the information about the homestead sites within the park the given to us by Bill Dallman, unofficial park historian," Hahn tells Eagle Country 99.3.

The results included the identification of 26 new archaeological sites. Thirteen of the sites were identified as homesteads with recognizable foundations, cisterns, or wells, as well as over 1,000 historic artifacts.

The staff and students used atlas records to find out who owned the properties during the turn of the century. Objects were identified using internet and book references. Student identified the artifacts using internet and book references.

"The next step for the project is to submit the report from the 2018 survey and prepare for another round of survey in the summer of 2019," says Hahn.

The project was funded with a Department of the Interior National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund Grant through the Division of Natural Resources and the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.