Data Recovery Field Methods

Site Grid

Sampling Units

In order to identify cultural features not defined during previous phases of investigation and to gather a representative sample of artifacts from the general site area, the subsurface investigations began with the excavation of 50 x 50 cm (19.7 x 19.7 in) Sampling Units (SUs) at 3 m (10 ft) intervals within the site boundaries. A total of 685 SUs were excavated across the site.  Each SU was hand excavated in 5 cm (2 in) arbitrary levels within the natural strata and screened through 0.6 cm (0.25 in) mesh hardware cloth.  SUs were not excavated within the anticipated boundaries of previously defined cultural features to prevent disturbing the feature soils prior to detailed excavation, except in a few instances where features were larger than originally defined.  Additionally, from every other SU in every other transect (i.e., ¼ of the SUs) a 500 cc (30.5 in³) soil sample was taken, from both the topsoil and subsoil, for chemistry analyses.  Each soil sample subsequently was tested for levels of acidity (pH), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K), and the results were mapped to locate anomalies that could indicate activity areas.  A sample results map for soil chemistry is displayed in RECENT EXCAVATIONS.

Metal Detecting

Broad sampling of the site area continued with a controlled metal detector survey utilizing two Whites brand Silver Eagle metal detectors.  Transects were walked systematically, eventually covering the site area.  The metal detectors initially were set to register only iron objects, and then set to register only non-iron pieces of metal.  Each hit was flagged and later mapped according to whether it was iron or non-iron.  All non-iron and overload readings were excavated.   Results of Metal Detecting are displayed in RECENT EXCAVATIONS.

Excavation Units

Every identified cultural feature was investigated in detail via the excavation of 1 x 1 m (3.3 x 3.3 ft) Test Units (TUs).  All TUs were hand excavated in 5 cm (2 in) arbitrary levels within natural strata and screened through 0.6 cm (0.25 in) mesh hardware cloth.  The TUs were emplaced to fully excavate each cultural feature, or as much as was warranted to recover an appropriate amount of data.  A total of 260 TUs were excavated prior to stripping (see below), and 13 after stripping, for a total of 273 TUs excavated during the Phase III investigations.

MECHANICAL STRIPPING

Finally, after all sampling and detailed excavations were completed, an area encompassing approximately 1,730 m2 (18,621 ft2)  excluding previously excavated TUs  was stripped of all topsoil.  This topsoil stripping was performed by a rubber-tired Gradall, followed by hand cleaning of the subsoil surface utilizing flat shovels and hoes.