Field Reports for 2007

2007 Field Report 5

Sunday, July 29, 2007 This is a partial map (using Autocad) of some of the cultural materials removed from Feature 41. The cluster of three bottles at the bottom of the map represents two ale bottles with the crown embossing and a medicine bottle. The other bottle discussed is drawn in at the top of this map.

We have been working quite hard this summer to investigate Feature 41, the prison hospital latrine from 1863, and have taken many interesting things out. I wanted to share with you these new discoveries at Johnson’s Island. We have found so much eggshell that I can’t even imagine how many eggs it must represent. I […]

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Archaeology for Educators 2007

Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Teachers excavate one of the 2 meter squares down to subsoil.

This update was prepared by teachers–Tim, Annette, Jon, Natalie, Stacey, Gene, Rick, and Jen–taking the Archeology for Educators K-12, Investigating a Civil War Prison (EDU 533/534) courses this past week. Tim: “I have learned much about the science of archeology in the past week. I feel that the hands-on approach works well. The most exciting […]

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2007 Field Report 4

Monday, July 9, 2007 The final shot of Level 2 of the 1863 hospital latrine

Over the last week, we began excavating the third level of the hospital latrine, bringing the latrine down to about 12 cm below the plow zone (actually to 61-64 cm below temporary datum!). At this depth, we are finally breaking through the clay that was placed on top of the waste to seal it. We […]

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2007 Field Report 3

Monday, July 2, 2007 Posthole uncovered in Block 6, the prison hospital

Over the past two weeks, we’ve been alternating between opening up the hospital latrine and finishing the units inside Block 6. We’ve mapped and excavated a number of potential postholes and wall supports inside the hospital area. Completion of the four units there has exposed more details of the floor plan as well as a […]

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2007 Field Report 2

Sunday, June 24, 2007 Plan map

We are now investigating Feature 41 (F.41), the 1863 latrine from Block 6 at the site, and I thought I would give you some background on the excavation of it. As you can see from the plan map, we found three latrines in 1995 and 1996, all inside of the original wall for the prison. […]

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2007 Field Report 1

Tuesday, June 19, 2007 Prosser button

For the first week of excavating in the prison hospital, we divided into two teams of four working in two 2 m2 units excavating the plow zone, the upper level of soil, disturbed by plowing but still containing artifacts. Our most common finds included nineteenth-century ceramics and glass, cut nails, brick, and flint pieces (from […]

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Field Report Introduction 2007

Friday, June 1, 2007 Map of 2007 Block Investigations

We have started another field season at the Johnson’s Island Civil War Prison site and are hopeful to gather quite a bit of information about the hospital. Our goals this year are two-fold. First, we want to continue our exploration of the actual building site for the hospital. Second, we want to open up one […]

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