Manhattan Archaeological Survey: Phases 1 and 2

Ritterbush, Lauren; Rau, Victoria

The unrestricted version of this survey report features Chapter 1 ("Introduction"), Chapter 2 ("Site Descriptions") and Chapter 4 ("Summary and Recommendations"). Abstract: "The Manhattan Archaeological Survey was funded in part by a matching Historic Preservation Fund grant awarded to the City of Manhattan, Kansas. The City subcontracted with the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work at Kansas State University to complete Phase I and Phase II archaeological surveys for the Manhattan Urban Area. The latter includes the City of Manhattan and a defined area immediately surrounding the present city limits. The Phase I literature search involved review of reports and historical documents pertaining to previous archaeological investigations in the project area and site records in the Kansas Historical Society Archeological Inventory, as well as at the Cultural Resources Division of the Kansas Historical Society and Kansas State University Archaeology Lab. Phase I research identified numerous prior archaeological investigations and 98 previously recorded archaeological sites. Phase II activities included revisiting many of the previously recorded sites in order to assess their present condition and pedestrian survey of more than 436 acres of cultivated fields and pastures. The latter resulted in the discovery of 22 previously unrecorded sites. Phase I and II investigations revealed a variety of archaeological resources in the Manhattan Urban Area. Included are Archaic, Woodland, Central Plains tradition, historic Native American, and Historic Euroamerican components. Many are prehistoric artifact scatters representing lithic collection stations, workshops, campsites and farmsteads. Former burial sites also exist. Historic sites include a Kansa Indian village; residential, commercial, and agricultural Euroamerican/African American artifact scatters and structures; a relocated cemetery, and features potentially related to an early golf course. Recommendations are made for managing and gaining a better understanding of the archaeological resources in the Manhattan area. More than one-third of the recorded sites require no further study, largely because they have been destroyed. More could be learned about one other destroyed site through historical research. The condition of 24 previously recorded sites has yet to be assessed through Phase II survey. We are confident that at least eight of these also deserve Phase III testing. Forty-three others also require Phase III evaluation for the National Register of Historic Places. Archaeological monitoring is recommended for six sites, often in combination with survey and testing. Seven prehistoric burial locations deserve protection under the Unmarked Burial Sites Preservation Act. Broader recommendations for the project area include continued Phase II survey of additional properties and archaeological monitoring of selected locations and activities. Geomorphic study of major and tributary stream valleys, geological mapping of chert-bearing exposures, and historical research would greatly facilitate locating and interpreting cultural remains in the project area. Finally, possible preservation measures or incentives (e.g., conservation easements) are briefly reviewed." Project funding was provided in part by a 2008 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the City of Manhattan (project number KS-08-009) administered by the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office (grant number 20-08-21721) administered by the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Manhattan, Kansas is a Certified Local Government.

Manhattan Archaeological Survey: Phases 1 and 2

Collections