Epsilon II Archaeological Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Epsilon II Archeological Site (12MO133)
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| Nearest city | Bloomington, Indiana |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000524 |
| Added to NRHP | March 25, 1986 |
Epsilon II is a very important archaeological site located by Lake Monroe in southeastern Monroe County, Indiana. An archaeological site is a place where scientists called archaeologists find clues about people who lived there long ago. This site is one of the biggest and best-preserved places from its time period in the area. Because it's so special, it has been named a historic site.
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Discovering Ancient Life at Epsilon II
Archaeologists have found many interesting things at Epsilon II. Most of the tools and artifacts found here are from a time called the Late Archaic period. This period was a very long time ago, even before people started farming! It's amazing because most other nearby sites have older tools from the Early Archaic period.
What Archaeologists Found
At Epsilon II, many of the stone tools, especially spear points or arrowheads, are of a type called "Karnak Stemmed" or "Karnak Unstemmed." These names describe the unique shapes of the tools. Finding so many of these specific types helps archaeologists understand what life was like for the ancient people living here. They can learn about their hunting methods and how they made their tools.
The site is also sometimes called the "Sisson Site." This is another name that people use to refer to this important historical spot.
Epsilon II: A Special Historic Place
Because Epsilon II is so important for understanding ancient history, it was given a special honor. On March 25, 1986, the Epsilon II Archaeological Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are considered very important to our country's history.
First in Monroe County
Epsilon II was the very first archaeological site in Monroe County to get this special recognition. It was a big deal for the area! Around the same time, three other sites also became part of the National Register. These included Axsom Branch and Refuge #7 in Brown County, and Kappa V in Monroe County.
While the sites in Brown County were later removed from the list, Epsilon II and Kappa V in Monroe County are still recognized as important historic places today. This means they are protected and studied so future generations can learn from them.
