DNR Grant to protect Indiana Pre-History

From a Department of Natural Resources press release:

A federal grant of $180,454 from the Preserve America program will help fund the “Inventory and Promotion of Indiana’s Prehistoric Mounds and Earthworks.”
The DNR Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA), which serves as the State Historic Preservation Office, will run the project. Archaeologists at several universities in the state will assist.
The project will produce a comprehensive inventory of Indiana’s prehistoric mounds and earthworks, a narrative report of findings, and an educational public Web page about these fragile cultural resources.
Prehistoric mounds and other types of earthworks were constructed in Indiana between approximately 1500 B.C. and 1500 A.D. DHPA estimates that about 1,000 such resources exist statewide. During the last two centuries many have been damaged or destroyed by erosion, agricultural practices, development and looting.
“This project will guide planning and resource management efforts, identify sites that may be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and help educate Hoosiers about early peoples of Indiana," said the DHPA's Steve Kennedy. "The Web page will promote heritage tourism by directing people to publicly accessible locations where they can see and learn about mounds first-hand.”
Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our nation’s heritage. Former First Lady Laura Bush has served as Honorary Chair of Preserve America since its inception in March 2003. The Preserve America Initiative was launched by then-President Bush to promote cultural and natural preservation and to encourage greater appreciation of our national heritage.
The Preserve America Grant program is administered by the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service in partnership with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The competitive matching grants can be awarded to designated Preserve America communities, state historic preservation offices, and tribal historic preservation offices to support their preservation efforts through heritage tourism, public education, and planning.
Mrs. Bush, former Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation chairman John L. Nau III announced the first round of Preserve America Grants for FY 2009 on Jan. 17. The list includes 31 projects in 17 states and one tribe totaling nearly $3 million.

For more information on Preserve America, including a complete list of grant recipients, criteria and application forms, see PreserveAmerica.gov.