Student Highlight of the Week- BILL BROWN

Bill is a 42 year old returning student with a previous BA in social work. He is a senior seeking a BA in general anthropology. He's an active member of the SCA following an 11th century Spanish refugee persona. He's mostly interested in early colonization of Spanish Florida. He intends on pursuing a Masters with a heavy emphasis on GIS map applications.

Artifact Density Analysis

The maps below represent the architectural and ceramic distributions for the Area A-10 meter interval shovel tests. The highest concentrations for both architectural artifacts and ceramics are located within the general vicinity of Block 1, Units 3-6 (pictured in previous blog update). The shovel test data corresponds very well with the placement of Block 1. The locations of the sandstone structural features and artifact concentrations (using both shovel test and unit data) suggest that we have located the interior and exterior of a residence.

The architectural concentrations clearly surround the exterior of the structure (outside the sandstone corner features). Ceramic concentrations occurred in both the exterior and interior areas of the proposed structure.

Architecture

Ceramics

Student Highlight of the Week- JENNY OWEN

Jenny is a senior majoring in biological anthropology at the University of West Florida. She is particularly interested in the pathologies associated with industrialization and she plans to pursue a career in bioarchaeology.

Structural Features

We have opened all of Block 1, which consists of Units 3-6. Since opening all four units, we have exposed many more bricks and structural features. It appears that we have remnants of a chimney along with the adjacent chimney-fall, which has a very dark, ashy appearance.

The above photo shows Block 1, Unit 3 after all of the structural features were exposed. This shows a somewhat square shape to the articulated bricks and brick rubble.

The above photo shows Block 1 (bottom of level 1, 0-10 centimeters below surface). This photo displays the chimney remnants along with the chimney fall in the upper right 1/4 of the block.

Block 1 has yielded several features that we will begin removing after the overall Block 1 map is complete. Block 1 has yielded numerous artifacts including several types of ceramics, bottle and window glass, a spoon bowl (sans handle), a turpentine tool, pencil lead and a black- glass faceted cuff link or button. We are very excited to continue excavations in this area!

We have exposed several different pieces of sandstone in this area, which were likely used as piers or cornerstones for a structure. We have identified two sandstone slabs that are in aligment with eachother. Sandstone does not occur naturally in this area of the site though sandstone was readily available from a large outcropping located near the museum. The above photo shows the two sandstone slabs (one on the far right side of the photo and one on the far left).

Along with Block 1 we have also excavated several 1x2 meter units. Units 1-2 and 7-9 have been completely excavated and documented. We have begun backfilling these units so we can focus more attention on Block 1. We opened Unit 10, 1x1 meter, (shown to the left) over a partially exposed sandstone feature, which is located within a tree-fall depression. Based on the resistivity data, it appears that this sandstone feature may be the anomaly identified in this area of the grid.

We have been lucky to have plenty of visitors recently! Dr. Matt Clavin, UWF History Department, has brought out two different groups of teachers from all over the country. The teachers are participating in a workshop about African-American history. We've also had visitors from our very own UWF Archaeology Institute! We have two weeks left before field school officially ends, so if you can't make it out to see us please continue to follow our progress here on the blog!!!

Unit and Block excavation

We have completed our first two 1 x 2 meter units (Units 1 and 2), which are located outside of the geophysical grid. We received our resistivity results and have since opened several 1 x 2 meter units and one 4 x4 meter block excavation unit. The resistivity results show two anomalies within the 20 meter by 40 meter area. One of these anomalies is in an area of known surface and sub-surface bricks. We systematically probed the area and located numerous sub-surface bricks. The photo to the right shows the southeast quad (southeast 1/4 of Unit 3 (1 x 1 meter)) with several exposed bricks.

We also opened the northwest and southwest quads (Unit 3) and exposed even more bricks and fasteners. It appears that the bricks are in a circular pattern, however there is a small upturned tree that may have influenced their pattern. The circular pattern paired with the upturn tree suggests that the the tree fall actually pulled the bricks upward creating a circular pattern. The systematic probing suggests that there are bricks located beneath this disturbed tree fall.

In total, we have opened nine units and excavated two to subsoil. We are opening many 1 x 2 meter units throughout this area in hopes of identifying more structures. The bricks in Unit 3 are considered a structural feature complex, which likely represent a pier or some other type of residential structural element. We plan to continue opening units in hopes of identifying more structural features and domestic assemblages.

Student Highlight of the Week-JOHN NUCKOLS

John was born in Lexington, KY and raised in Laporte, CO. He is a senior undergraduate majoring in general anthropology at the University of West Florida. He also studied at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He enjoys outdoor activities and speaks several languages. He hopes to incorporate his foreign language skills and other talents into his upcoming degree.

Geophysical survey and excavation units

We had a particularly busy week of geophysical survey and opening up excavation units. Once all of the clearing was complete, we decided to conduct a resistivity survey in Area A of the site. Dr. Victor Thompson, University of West Florida, came out and conducted a resistivity survey in two 20 meter by 20 meter grids. We set up the resistivity grid by shooting in the corners with a total station so we could make sure we had perfect 20 meter by 20 meter squares. The students then staked-in meter tapes that created lanes for the resistivity machine (shown here).


The geophysical survey went very well considering the rough terrain of Area A. We decided against Ground Penetrating Radar because the rough terrain and abundant roots would negatively affect the data.

After the geophysical survey, we set up two 1 meter by 2 meter units to excavate. Though we haven't received the geophysical results, we wanted to open two small units so the combination students could experience unit excavation before they switch to maritime field school on Monday, July 6th.

On Friday, we got to the bottom of level 1 in both units. The units are dug in 10 cm arbitrary levels by shovel shaving with a square shovel. Unit 1 yielded lots of artifacts including a large number of whiteware sherds, metal, brick fragments, and glass fragments. Shown to the left, a pearlware plate base that was recovered in level 1 of Unit 1.

Unit 2 was started later in the day so we managed to get the root mat off by the end of work hours. We are excited to continue excavating and see what we find! We are within the area of domestic concentrations, so we hope to find plenty more ceramics, glass, and building materials!

Student Highlight of the Week- KATHRYN ANN KING

Kathryn is currently a senior, majoring in archaeology at the University of West Florida. She is most interested in historical archaeology with a focus on Colonial America. She is also interested in prehistoric archaeology, Incan and Myan cultures, and Egyptian culture. She plans to pursue graduate school for a masters in cultural anthropology and possibly a doctorate.