| Dig
Diaries 2005
Jocelyn Hendershot
Archaeology Field School Journal
May 9
12 to 4 p.m. (4 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
So today was our first day, and I wasn’t really sure what
to expect. We met at the school at noon and drove to the Muncy Historical
Society. There we met Bill Poulton. He gave us some history on the
canal and a tour of the museum, pointing out the types of artifacts
we might find. After our tour, we went to Bill’s barn to see
where we would be storing our artifacts. We also saw a refurbished
canal boat, which was really cool. After a great deal of anticipation,
we finally got to see the site. Bill took us on a tour along the
canal, and shared his vision of the soon-to-come heritage park.
The site was beautiful.
After exploring, we found that Robin had discovered the cover of
the well of the lock keeper’s house. After clearing away some
of the dirt and brush, she discovered that the old cement cover
was inscribed “October 1928.” There was a wire rope
and two metal bars protruding from the north side of the cover.
We finished off the day by completing a little clearing and deciding
how to proceed tomorrow. Erin found an artifact, possibly a stove
pipe cover.
May 10
12 to 3 p.m. (3 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
When we arrived today, since everyone wasn’t there yet, we
spent some time exploring the area. Then, we worked to clear the
vegetation around the excavation site. We also marked a fifteen-foot
square perimeter (from datum) around the well itself. When Bill
arrived we pulled the cap from the well, and got our first real
look inside. It was really exciting. The inside wasn’t very
large (perhaps five feet wide and three or four feet deep, but I’m
not good with estimating measurements).
At this point, I had to leave for work, but I can’t wait to
see how far everyone got after I left.
May 11
10 am to 2 pm (4 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
Amy, Steph and I met Robin at the site today at 10 am. We began
work by removing the coverings to the well. Amy and I then measured
around the well, the depth, and different points from datum. Datum
was moved from the upper left post to the large rock at the top
of the well. The measurements were used to help Steph create a map
of the site. After all of the measurements were made, we set up
the sifters and marked off the walls of our entrance to the well.
Then, it was time to dig. We began removing the first 10 inches
of dirt in between the walls. This became layer one. We found some
potsherds, stakes, old nails and coal. Digging was slow because
of the large tree roots, rocks and bricks in the way. When Erin
arrived, she stepped in and began digging. Kyle arrived at 12:30,
and he set up our fence along the road. The rest of my afternoon
was spent digging and sifting.
May 12
10 am to 3 pm (5 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
My fiancé and I arrived at the site at 10 am. It was very
cold this morning, which was a drastic change from previous days.
Amy, Steph and April went back to school to get warmer clothes,
while Robin, Jeremiah and I worked to uncover the site and clear
the brush from the proposed walkway. After clearing brush, it was
time to begin excavating the back wall of the well. We are approaching
the well from the back side, eventually removing the back portion
of the wall to enter the well.
The rest of the day was spent digging and sifting dirt, with the
exception of a break for a lunch provided by some members of the
Muncy Historical Society. It was delicious and a lot of fun.
When Erin and Kyle arrived, they worked to clear a second path entering
the well from the other side. The rest of us continued to work the
dirt.
We found some interesting artifacts today; some large pieces of
potsherds, as well as glass, old nails and lots of metal pieces.
The potsherds had different colors and designs; some of them looked
like they were from plates and bowls. Digging began on level 2 today.
May 13
10 am to 2 pm (4 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
When Amy, April, Steph and I arrived at 10 this morning, we unpacked
the site and rearranged our normal setup. We are now using the two
paths to access the site and we are locating our table by the creek
at the bottom end of the site.
After uncovering the site, we laid out and measured our north, south,
east and west sections. With this completed, we resumed digging
and sifting.
Kyle and Erin arrived early today, and Wes came as well. Wes, Robin
and Kyle worked on carefully removing some of the stones from the
well wall.
Our finds are remaining fairly consistent; potsherds of different
varieties, old nails and metal remnants. I uncovered some ashen
remains today, perhaps from a fire pit or just discarded ash.
Week Two – 22 Hours
May 16
10 am to 3 pm (5 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
When Steph, April, Amy and I arrived today, we set up the site and
realized that we needed to relocate our stakes around the site.
We spent a good deal of time making sure everything was square.
We then began digging and sifting. While Steph and I worked to define
the north wall through levels one and two, April began on the west
side of level three.
Around 11:30 we took a break and the girls went for lunch. I stayed
behind and began my reading for the week. After our break, digging
resumed.
When Erin arrived around one, she assisted Amy with the sifting.
When Kyle and Wes arrived, they put together our tool shed!
May 17
10 am to 3 pm (4 pm, free hour) (6 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
The day today began with April, Steph, Amy, Robin and I relaxing
around the site. When we began work, we set up the site and began
working to lower the north side of level three. April and Steph
worked on this, while Robin worked on the wall of the well. Amy
and I sifted the material, finding the usual artifacts of potsherds,
metal and nails. We are also beginning to find some bits of clay
and other old cement mixtures.
When Erin arrived she assisted with the sifting, as did Kyle. Wes
helped to dig the third level. Work continued as normal for the
rest of the afternoon.
May 18
10 am to 5 pm (7 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
This morning we began with the usual clearing and setting up of
the site, and then worked to dig level four of the north and west
side of the well. Robin also worked on the walls. April and Steph
dug while Amy and I sifted. We also worked on a new book during
our break. It was a good time. We are still discovering the same
types of artifacts, including potsherds, nails and metal.
When Erin, Kyle and Wes arrived, they stepped in to help with the
digging and the sifting. We all can’t wait to begin cleaning
off the different artifacts so that we can see what everything really
looks like.
At 3 p.m., everyone else left while Kyle and I assisted Robin at
the barn. We worked to put together the screens and drying cabinet
for the artifacts. We spent a great deal of time on this.
We almost have the upper level even with the lower level. Soon,
we will be able to being digging in the well itself. The media will
be stopping by also, as soon as the walls are straight and we have
the entrance to the well opened up.
May 19
10 am to 2 pm (4 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
Today we began by meeting at the barn and cleaning artifacts. Steph,
Amy, April and I set up a table in the yard and work from 10 to
12:30 cleaning the artifacts that were found at the site. It was
exciting to see what the different potsherds and other artifacts
looked like without all of the dirt.
At 12:30 we packed up the materials at the barn and left to meet
Kyle, Wes and Erin at the Taber Museum in Williamsport. We began
our tour of the museum at 1 pm. We learned about the different eras
of the American Indians in Williamsport, as well as the different
types of artifacts that other archaeologists have found on other
digs in the area. We also toured the archives, the archaeological
lab, and the genealogy lab. Everyone had fun in the train room also.
Week Three
May 23
11 am to 4 pm (5 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
As I wasn’t feeling well this morning, I arrived at the site
an hour later than April, Steph and Amy. When I arrived, it was
already time for the lunch break. After taking this, we began to
dig on level five, north, south, east and west. This evened out
the floor of our entrance to the well, meaning that tomorrow we
will begin digging in the well itself. We took turns digging and
sifting, while Robin worked to finish the crafting of the walls.
When Wes, Kyle and Erin all arrived between 1 pm and 1:30 pm, they
stepped in to help with the digging and sifting. The floor of the
entrance to the well is now even and will remain at level five for
the time being. We weren’t finding too many artifacts at level
five, but we did discover what looks to be a possible stone footpath
buried in level two of the well, cutting straight out from the well
itself. In the middle of this layer of pebble is a large feature,
a rock that juts out of the wall. It is possible that this was a
stepping stone up to the well.
At 3 pm, we packed up the site and headed to the lab to work on
finishing our drying rack and cleaning artifacts. While Kyle and
Robin finished the drying rack, I showed Erin and Wes how to clean
artifacts and use the drying trays. It was interesting because I
am beginning to piece together a beautiful plate with blue etching.
At 4 pm, I had to leave for work.
May 24
10 am to 4 pm (6 hours)
Class was cancelled today due to the weather.
May 25
10 am to 3 pm (5 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
We headed to the site today, but everything was still very damp
due to the rain, so we checked to make sure that everything was
ok, and then loaded up and headed to the barn. Here, we set up our
lab and worked to clean artifacts. When the photographer from the
paper arrived, he took candid shots of us working with the artifacts,
and then we headed back over to the site for some shots of the well
and excavation area. We took measurements if the area as our photos
were being taken. We then returned to the lab and continued to wash
artifacts.
Due to the fact that it was extremely cold and windy today, we left
the lab at 12 pm because conditions really were not favorable to
be working there. Instead, to make up the time, I will be reading
a small book and writing a summary of the important information
included therein.
May 26
10 am to 2 pm (4 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
We spent the day today at the site. April, Amy, Steph and I arrived
at 10 am, cleaned off the site, and began to dig in the well. Because
only one person could fit in the entrance to the well to dig, we
took turns digging and then sifting the dirt. There was a great
deal of anticipation about what might be found in the well, but
so far the only artifacts have been old paper wrappings, old pieces
of magazines and an old beer bottle. It is tedious work, seeing
as only one person can be digging at once, but somewhat relaxing.
The Poulton’s bought us a large canopy, of sorts, to place
around the site and over the well. When Kyle, Erin and Wes arrived,
they worked to piece it together and set it up.
May 30
No class – Memorial Day
May 31
10 am to 2 pm (4 hours)
Pepper St., Muncy Creek Township
Well, today was my last day. It was kind of sad to be leaving, and
to think that the next time that I visit, so much will have been
done and I won’t know what took place in the process. I really
enjoyed this dig, and everything that I have learned from it. Today
we worked at the lab, labeling artifacts and working on the final
report. April wasn’t present, so Steph, Amy and I each took
a different task to complete. Amy worked to identify objects, while
Steph and I read through different articles and wrote introductions
about the different artifacts that were found. When Erin arrived,
she helped Amy to classify artifacts.
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