Ball State Receives $50,000 to Survey Deadman Hollow
A federal Historic Preservation Fund grant will support an archaeological survey of 60 acres in Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Hunting
The Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology has awarded Ball State University a $50,000 federal grant to conduct an archaeological survey of Deadman Hollow. The project is one of 12 funded through Historic Preservation Fund grants.
Why it matters
The survey is intended to help guide interpretation and resource management planning for the forested stream valley and uplands. Division staff determined the funded projects will have no adverse effect on historic properties.
The grant covers a survey of 60 acres using shovel test probes, with a projected total investment above $1.2 million including matches. Most recipients must provide a dollar-for-dollar match, and the results of the survey have not yet been reported.
The players
Ball State University
A public university in Muncie, Indiana, which received the federal grant to conduct the archaeological survey of Deadman Hollow.
Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology
The state agency that administers Historic Preservation Fund grants in Indiana and determined the funded projects will have no adverse effect on historic properties.
The details
The National Park Service distributes money to states through the Historic Preservation Fund Program, and the Indiana division awarded the Deadman Hollow grant to Ball State University. The survey aims to understand area use during pre- and post-contact periods.
Timeline
Dec. 31: Deadline to contact the division to become a consulting party or submit comments on the projects.
Roadmap
The grants are federal undertakings reviewed under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires public comment before projects proceed. The Deadman Hollow survey follows that federal review framework applied to Indiana's state forest lands.
Residents and visitors who use Morgan-Monroe State Forest may see the survey work in Deadman Hollow during the project period. The public may comment on the federal undertakings before the Dec. 31 deadline to contact the division.
The takeaway
Public comment on federal historic preservation projects is open until the Dec. 31 deadline, giving residents a direct voice in how Indiana's forest heritage sites are managed.
Further reading
Explore more on Hunting in Indiana, where Morgan-Monroe State Forest offers public land for outdoor pursuits.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nwitimes.
