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US Route 301 Archaeology Update

Written on: August 28th, 2012 in Archaeology Updates US301

The archaeological fieldwork at the Rumsey/Polk Tenant/Prehistoric site is nearing an end, and we sure do have a lot of data from the site.  Two overlapping historic occupations (one mid- to late 18^th and one early to mid-19^th century in date) have left a cascade of over 600 cultural features.  Nearly one hundred have been excavated in full or part.  Roughly 5/6^th of the features are stains left by post holes and decayed posts.  Others are crawl spaces and sub-floor cold storage pits below former buildings, refuse or trash pits, possible privies, and one well. The majority of these larger features have been archaeologically sampled and produced a rich diversity of cultural material from both historic occupations.  Many of the post stains show us the locations of former fence lines that once criss-crossed the site, separating house yards from farm fields, barns, and animal pens, or living areas from work areas.   In addition to fence lines, several posts indicate the locations of earthfast buildings.  Such structures lacked masonry foundations, and were instead supported by hole-set posts, wooden sills, and wooden piers.  This building method was common in the Middle Atlantic Region during the 17^th century.  By the early 18^th century and into the early nineteenth-century, earthfast architecture was used in conjunction with masonry building techniques.  Studies in New Jersey and Delaware indicate that by the third-quarter of the 18^th century, fewer homes were built using earthfast construction techniques, but the construction of earthfast out buildings, including barns, animal sheds, out kitchens, corn cribs, and hay barracks continued into the 19^th century.  The absence of intact masonry foundations at the Rumsey/Polk Tenant/Prehistoric site suggests all of the buildings on site were of earthfast construction and/or, if buildings with stone or brick masonry foundations were constructed, masonry foundations did not extend below the topsoil and the usable stone or brick was removed for reuse elsewhere.  Observation of post patterns based on our field maps suggest several buildings were present on the site with floor plan dimensions ranging from 16’x18’, 12’x24’, 16.5’x19.5’, and 9’x16.5’.  These buildings appear to have been oriented along a northwest/southeast axis to provide maximum solar exposure and likely represent a variety of building types, including dwellings, out kitchens, sheds, and barns.  The excavation of sub-floor pits that would have been below many of the buildings will aid in determining their age and use .