The weather was much more accomodating for archaeological work today. As shown in the photograph to the right, crews worked in two areas removing "Level 1." Students carefully remove the dirt in "levels" -- each level is 10 centimeters in thickness (about 4 inches). Level 1 includes the sod and a zone of humus (topsoil) containing a mix of artifacts from the 1800s and 1900s. In this mix, we found round or "wire" nails (dating primarily after the 1880s) to square nails (the older type), relatively recent crown bottle caps and fragments of Mason jars, fragments of 1850s ceramic dishes, and many other items.

At the bottom of this level in one unit (see the photograph below), we found what may be the remnants of a foundation wall of the church. In the right of the excavation unit, you can see two large cut limestone blocks roughly in line. Just to the left in the photograph is a scattering of bricks and brick fragments (some still coated with mortar) -- their placement in the ground suggests they were tumbled away from the possible remnants of the foundation. On Thursday, we will be excavating Level 2 (10-20 centimeters -- about 4 to 8 inches deep) -- that should answer the question of whether these are the remains of a foundation associated with the church.

At the bottom of Level 1 in all six of the units, we appear to be working in deposits that date primarily to the mid-1800s -- the more recent artifacts are declning in frequency. Level 2 promises to be a much less disturbed -- and will probably date to the period around the time of the destruction of the church.

Students comprising the crew are "learning the ropes" of how to do archaeology, identify artifacts, and keep records. The following two photographs show "The Crew" at work.