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Features
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Several
sub-surface features were identified during the data recovery.
One was a circular pit with a 67 cm (26 in) diameter located
in Units 42 and 44. The pit had straight sides and was
filled with layers of ash and soil. It extended approximately
30 cm (12 in) into sterile subsoil before excavations
were obstructed by a layer of rusted metal objects which
were embedded in the pit’s walls. Some of the objects
were round, shallow pans, though the purpose of the these
pans was unknown. The pit also |
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Unit 33
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contained a high number
of architectural artifacts (mostly nails), burned food
bones, and fragments of a leather show. The pit was located
in the area which would have been the house’s back
yard. The purpose of this pit is unknown. |
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Unit 29 |
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The
second feature was a much larger and deeper pit found
in Units 29 and 43, located near the north end of the
organic midden. This feature measured 100 cm (39 in)
wide at the top, and approximately 85 cm (34 in) at
the bottom, giving it a U-shape in profile. Based on
the soil profile, it appears that the pit was dug in
an area with a natural depression (possibly caused by
an uprooted tree). The pit was dug after the organic
midden had accumulated, probably towards the end of
the Carney’s occupation of the site. |
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The
pit had three layers of soil, and contained over 2,000
artifacts. These included fragments of 119 ceramic and
glass vessels, many of which were nearly complete. The
vessels included table and teaware dishes, some of which
were made from fancy pressed glass or were decorated with
intricate transfer printed patterns and elaborate moldings.
A |
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Feature 2
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number of chamberpots
and other hygienic vessels were recovered (including a
basin and two ewers), which strongly suggests that the
pit was used as a privy (outhouse). Food remains were
also numerous in the pit, including butchered animal bones
and millions of raspberry or blackberry seeds. After the
pit was filled, it was covered with one of the ash deposits
which extended across this portion of the site. Eventually,
the pit was sealed underneath the yellow fill. |
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Unit
17 contained a third feature, which was a shallow pit
filled with the head and foot bones of two male pigs.
The pigs were approximately 10 months old, which suggests
that they were slaughtered in the late fall or early winter.
The bones were interpreted as butchering waste which was
buried to discourage scavengers and to alleviate offensive
odors. It is likely that the pit was dug in the same |
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Unit 23
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area where the pigs were
slaughtered, which makes this feature unique. The other
site features were refuse pits used for relatively long
periods of time, whereas this pit was probably excavated,
filled, and abandoned all in one day. This feature helps
generate an understanding of some of the activities which
occurred on the site. |
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Unit 30 |
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Another “feature”
was encountered in Units 21 and 27, near the southern
end of the site. These units contained a large quantity
of rocks mixed with the organic midden. As the rest
of the midden was not very rocky, this accumulation
was treated as a potential foundation/wall feature
until the completion of both units revealed that the
rocks were non-structural. In addition, there were
relatively few
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artifacts in this portion
of the organic midden. The rock pile was ultimately interpreted
as either a natural accumulation of rocks (which would
not be unusual, given the shallow bedrock of the project
area) or as a pile of rocks created during clearing for
fields or for the construction of the house. Either way,
the pile had little research potential, and was not investigated
any further. |
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One
expected feature that was never encountered was the foundation
of the house. The approximate location of the house was
mapped using a 1898 Sanborn fire insurance map. This area
was very close to a dense accumulation of architectural
debris. However, units excavated in this area and across
the site did not intersect either a buried foundation
wall or a filled cellar hole. It is possible that the
shallow bedrock |
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Unit 15
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precluded
the construction of a deeply buried foundation and the
excavation of a cellar. If so, the stones used to build
the foundation may have been removed when the house
was destroyed.
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