Summary of Findings:

 

Most of the non-architectural features encountered at the site have been post molds, surface stains, or refuse pits. Together, the excavations have revealed, among other things, the foundations of the grocery store at 1407 Richland Street, the lunch counter at 1401 Richland Street, nine foundation piers associated with the house at 1904 Marion Street, multiple trash deposits from all occupation eras, and a privy. Significantly, excavations also revealed the presence of four distinct strata. Preliminary analysis suggests that these levels correspond to four distinct occupation eras, each of which seems to correlate closely with a change in head-of-household.

Level 1 represents the landscaping and disturbance associated with the post-1970 building activities of the Columbia Housing Authority. Level 2, which also shows evidence of disturbance, represents the circa 1912-1970 occupation of the site. Level 3 spans the period between the 1870s, when the grocery store at 1407 Richland Street was constructed, and 1912. The lower-most stratum, Level 4, represents the pre-1870s occupation of the site. Together, these strata represent not only four distinct family occupations, but also four unique social eras: antebellum (Level 4), post-Reconstruction (Level 3), Jim Crow segregation (Level 2), and contemporary heritage tourism (Level 1).

More than 200 features were revealed and 15,000 artifacts recovered. Cataloging is currently underway, with an expected completion date of May 2008. The classification and cataloging system used for the Mann-Simons project is a modified version of the typology set forth in the National Park Service's Museum Handbook, Part II (2000). Nineteen unique fields are available for describing each artifact.

-Jakob D. Crockett