Prairie Creek Site

Prairie Creek Site is an archaeological location spanning 30 acres along the southern bank of Prairie Creek in Daviess County. The site contains fifteen distinct soil layers filled with stone tools, animal bones, and preserved organic remains that show continuous human use over long periods.

Excavations began in 1972 when mastodon bones were discovered, prompting systematic research by Indiana University Bloomington. These investigations revealed evidence of human settlement in the area stretching back through multiple time periods.

The site gets its name from the nearby creek and reflects how Indigenous peoples used this location for hunting and daily tasks. Bone remains and stone tools scattered across the layers show the rhythms of life in this region thousands of years ago.

Some areas of the site require advance permission from local authorities before visiting, particularly where active research is underway. Plan your visit for dry weather conditions, as wet ground can make walking difficult and may limit access to certain zones.

Layer seven contains a carefully made bone fishhook alongside flint flakes and fish remains, offering rare evidence of how people engineered tools for water hunting. This combination reveals specific techniques that ancient inhabitants used to catch and process food from the creek.