Phase I Excavations:

 

Excavations undertaken by Clement, et al. (1999) in 1998 hinted at the potential of the site but did not provide the data necessary to evaluate it fully. To remedy this problem, Phase I objectives were broad in scope and designed to address basic questions about the occupation and integrity of the site. Specifically, the primary and secondary objectives were: 1) archaeologically investigate those areas of the site that will be irreparably disturbed by HCF landscaping activities planned for late autumn 2005 and 2) define the archaeological integrity of the site.

Between 13 and 23 July 2005, 31 shovel test pits in the area between the Mann-Simons house and the apartment building to the north were excavated. Shovel tests were distributed along a grid at 20-foot intervals across the entire backyard area. Each shovel test was excavated to a sufficient depth to intersect undisturbed features and subsoil. Since the objectives of the shovel tests were to define the stratigraphy of the soil behind the house and identify the presence of features and artifacts, the shovel tests did not intrude upon features or extend below subsoil.

A total of 46 shovel tests were originally proposed. However, upon examination of the stratigraphy within 30 feet of the apartment building, I determined that the soil was too disturbed to provide useful data. As a result, shovel tests were canceled in the remaining areas surrounding the apartment building. This is exactly the type of information shovel tests are designed to provide. The shovel tests produced a large sample of the stratigraphic nature of the site and a sample of spatially distinct artifacts and features from all periods of occupation.

Following shovel testing, I originally proposed to excavate ten 5 x 5 foot units within the front and side yard areas to be impacted by landscaping activities (units 5-12). The placement of each unit was randomly determined in order to provide a statistically valid sample of these areas. The primary purpose of these units was to identify evidence of fences, structures, and other landscape features related to the various occupations, such as the 1407 and 1401 Richland Street structures. Since spatial practices are intimately tied to issues of identity, the way these features divided the site is important to understanding how the landscape was conceived of and used by the family.

This work plan was not completed for a number of reasons. The most important factor was that the stratigraphy was more complex than anticipated. Based on the results of the 1998 excavations, the depth was expected to occur between 10 and 18 inches below surface and be composed of two primary strata. The units around the house, however, are approximately 24 inches below surface and composed of four distinct strata. In addition, each unit contained 10-12 features, which is more than expected. As a result, five excavation units within the east side of the yard were completed and none within the west yard. Phase I excavations provided the first systematic view of resources at the site and allowed the formulation of more sophisticated methodologies employed during subsequent phases.

-Jakob D. Crockett