101. Archeological Inventory and Testing at Sites Along the Dunes Creek Corridor 2002-2005, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Porter County, Indiana.
Sturdevant, Jay T. and Dawn Bringelson

From 2002-2005, the Midwest Archeological Center conducted several archeological inventory and evaluative testing projects at Reservation of Use and Occupancy (ROU) tracts along the Dunes Creek drainage within Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU). These investigations were implemented employing a strategy to address procedures described in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) regarding archeological resource preservation, while also addressing research questions relevant to our knowledge of the prehistoric archeological record preserved at INDU. The 2002-2005 projects investigated six prehistoric archeological sites that have provided significant new insight into the location, content, and chronology of archeological sites found within INDU. Four sites contain multiple archeological components representing several distinct prehistoric periods including the Early Archaic, Middle Archaic, Late Archaic, and Late Woodland. The archeological investigations at these six sites have demonstrated that unique archeological resources exist along the Dunes Creek drainage and are recommended eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places as part of a multiple property nomination. Because of the significance of these irreplaceable archeological resources, recommendations are provided that address the specific procedures for demolition and removal of several structures and roads in the Dunes Creek area.