Survey and Assessment of Archaeological Resources on Flint Island, Meade County, Threatened by River Bank Erosion and Illegal Digging

A survey of the island will be made using systematic shovel tests and surface survey with deep auger test transects to determine the depth of surface deposits and any potential buried deposits. River bank exposures will be examined to document eroding artifacts and evidence of buried deposits. Systematic shovel tests running from exposed bank deposits will be used to determine site boundaries. This will be followed by deep auger test transects across defined sites to determine the depth and nature of buried deposits -- midden accumulations, shell lenses, and potentially other features. Controlled excavations are not planned at this stage of investigation, unless human remains, hearths, or other features are exposed in the river bank and threatened by immediate destruction from erosion or looting. In this case, the remains will be documented in situ and stabilized if possible or samples collected for further analysis. Using available volunteer labor the remainder of the island will be systematically surveyed or shovel tested with selective deep coring to identify other archaeological deposits not immediately exposed in the eroded river bank.