The Greene Farm archaeology project: 2007 Field Season

During the 2007 field season our excavations focused entirely on locating architectural features of the Old House. The 2006 excavations uncovered edges of features that suggested that the 17th century Old House consisted of more than one structure, including outbuildings and additions. The discovery of relatively intact architectural and stratigraphic evidence was exciting and unanticipated. Up to 2006, our attention was focused on the artifact-rich Old House midden, which has a mean ceramic and pipe date of 1687 and an occupational range from 1663-1711.

Uploaded Image

Over the course of the 2006-07 academic year, we employed a range of geophysical testing with the aim of pinpointing the directionality and nature of the architectural features. The waterlogged conditions of the Old House landscape affected the preservation of some of the architectural remains, especially mortar and brick, and also affected the geophysical results. The geophysical results alone could not provide a decisive outline of the Old House features, but we decided not to abandon the surveys based on the lack of clarity. Returning to the archaeological data collected from previous seasons' excavations, we recognized that despite their relatively close proximity, the three architectural areas located in 2006 were composed of rather different concentrations of materials and distinct stratigrapghy with varying degrees of magnetism. Armed with this information, we pursued a new multi-method geophysical survey, which was conducted at a micro and macro level. On the micro level, the geophysical survey concentrated individually on the three areas with a variety of equipment, and was successful in isolating the general characteristics of each. These surveys were accompanied by the macro surveys, which focused in and outside of the Old House area, providing both general and comparative information. Geophysicist Tommy Urban is currently studying and comparing the signatures from this multi-method survey, and the implications of this innovative approach for archaeo-geophysics extend well beyond this project. Greene Farm archaeologists were successful in locating and identifying three distinct architectual areas (and more) thanks to the combined archaeological and geophysical survey methodologies. In addition to the previously located midden, we have now certainly uncovered the remains of a 17th century settlement consisting of living quarters for 1-2 generations of the Greene Family and their household members.

In 2007 we pursued an intensive approach, which involved the excavation of three trenches. Each of the trenches were built off of units excavated in 2006 that contained especially interesting architectural features.

Trenches 1, 2, & 3

Trench 1 followed the substantial foundation wall along the northern edge of the Old House site. The trench orignally measured 9x1 meters, but was extended to follow the wall features. Archaeologists collected a considerable amount of wall plaster from the interior portion of the wall. Also, the wall was composed almost entirely by stone and mortar. This contrasts from the wall compositions in other areas of the Old House. Trench 1 was excavated by Ninian Stein and Caroline Frank. Images from Trench 1 click here

Trench 1

Trench 2 was expanded off of a 2x2m unit excavated in 2006, and located by STP in 2005. Trench 2 was expanded into a perimeter 6x1 m excavation area designed to incorporate the important transition zone that marks the end of the midden and beginning of the architectural features. The stratigraphy in this area is complex, but archaeologists did uncover several large stones (not native to this property), which may have been part of a foundation wall or entryway. Trench 2 is aligned with Trench 3 and their stratigraphy is quite similar. Trench 2 was excavated by Kaitlin Deslatte and Randi Scott. Images from Trench 2 click here

Trench 2

Trench 3 was expanded off of a 1x1m unit excavated in 2006. Trench 3 appeared initially to be a pile of brick and rubble. The excavation area encompassed a 7x1m trench that was expanded further during the season. Excavations suggest that this was the base of a substantial brick structure, likely a chimney. The preservation of the brick in the wet soil of the trench was extremely poor, with brick disintegrating upon contact with trowel. Although it was not possible to document an intact chimney structure, the stratigraphy and artifacts strongly attest to the location of a chimney in the Trench 3 area. The chimney also appears to mark the terminus of a structure in this area, with no further architectural material appearing in the westward third of the trench. Krysta Ryzewski and Vanessa Van Doren excavated Trench 3. Images from Trench 3 click here

Trench 3

Images from the Farm 2007

Uploaded Image
Trenches. Trench 3 in foreground. Facing N

Caroline and Tommy wet screening through 1/8 inch mesh.

Uploaded Image
Irish Farthing, George II, 1760. Found in upper stratigraphic level of Trench 1.

Uploaded Image
Glass bead, double dipped, found in midden level of Trench 2.

Glass bead, close-up, Trench 2.

Uploaded Image
Artifacts from one bucket's worth of soil, Trench 2, midden level.

Spoon handle with "G" initial, G = Greene! - Trench 2.

Krysta and Vanessa mapping at Trench 3.

Architectural materials from one stratigraphic level of one trench. Each trench produced a massive quantity of architectural remains. Instead of archiving every piece, we collected each fragment, but stored them on individual tarps per trench and further separated them according to stratigraphic context. Each collection was quantified, weighed, and sampled before the remaining materials were used in backfilling. This experiment has produced important information about the proportions of architectural material used in 17th century local architecture.
Uploaded Image
Architectural material from Trench 2.

Uploaded Image
Construction on the east porch of the Manor House.

Construction on east porch reveals foundation of Manor House (ca. 1690), with similarities to the findings in the Old House excavations.

Uploaded Image
Mia, archaeologist in training.