Return to Area A

Once the surface collection and shovel testing was complete in Area D, we returned to Area A to pick up where we left off. The students completed the 56 shovel tests at 10 meter intervals, lending to an overall total of 166 completed shovel tests for the survey portion of field school.

The 10 meter interval shovel tests provided additional artifacts and spatial data to better understand what is going on this area. The data suggests that we have multiple households especially due to the variation and spatial distribution of artifacts. Once the shovel tests were complete, we began clearing to conduct geophysical survey. Geophysical survey is a non-intrusive tool for investigating sub-surface archaeological features. We will be conducting resistivity and ground-penetrating radar surveys in hopes to delineate sub-surface structural features.

Resistivity involves the measurement of resistance to an electrical current, which is passed through the ground. The amount of resistance is affected by how much moisture is present in the soil. The photo to the left shows a resistivity meter.

Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) involves an antenna which sends out electromagnetic pulses into the ground, which reflect off objects and are picked up again by a receiving antenna. The photo to the right shows the antenna for a GPR unit.

Friday, June 19th we spent all day clearing a 20 meter by 20 meter area within the artifact concentration to prepare for geophysical survey. In order to get the best data, we must clear an adjacent 20 meter by 2o meter area to conduct geophysical survey on a 40 meter by 40 meter grid. Our excavation plans will be based on the geophysical survey in combination with the artifact data from the shovel test survey.

AREA D

The students completed the controlled surface collection along with seven square shovel tests in Area D. The first step to the surface collection was to clean off each 2 meter by 2 meter unit in order to improve surface visibility. The students then conducted a controlled surface collection in each 2 meter by 2 meter unit.

The controlled surface collection yielded window and bottle glass fragments, ceramics, metal, brick fragments, mortar, sandstone fragments, and slag. The photo below shows a sizable brick fragment located right next to two cut nails. The bottom nail showed minimal signs of corosion, suggesting that it was high-fired or fired multiple times. The above nail or one closest to the brick was highly coroded, displaying the difference between well-preserved and not.

After the controlled surface collection, the students dug seven square shovel tests in 5 meter intervals. The square shovel tests gave the students an introdution to unit excavation including digging by levels and photocleaning. This area appears to have a loose, gray weather-deposited layer approximately 0-30 centimeters below surface (cmbs). We found artifacts below 30 cmbs including ceramics, olive glass fragments, metal, fasteners and brick fragments.

We managed to complete six of the seven shovel tests before a strong thunderstorm rolled in. The seventh shovel test was finished the next day, completing all planned shovel tests for Area D.

Student Highlight of the Week- CHAD M. GULSETH

Chad is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he is majoring in archaeology and minoring in anthropology. Chad has a passion for historical and maritime archaeology. The University of West Florida is offering Chad a chance to participate in a combined field school where he can study both areas of interest in one summer. After graduation next spring, Chad plans on attending graduate school before starting his career as a professional archaeologist.

The survey continues

We are completing the last portion of our shovel test survey this upcoming week. We have gone back to our 20 meter shovel test transects and added 56 shovel tests at 10 meter intervals. Once the 10 meter shovel tests are completed, we will have a better idea of boundaries for this positive area. We will compile the data from this area (Area A) and attempt to delineate whether we have a single household or multiple residences.

We also investigated a new area (Area C), which is located on a sandy, upland landform. We completed 15 shovel tests at 10 meter intervals along with several judgmental shovel tests. The shovel tests did not yield domestic artifacts as we expected, but we have other promising areas to investigate!

Some of the students exercised their transit knowledge and set up a 10 meter by 10 meter grid in an area south of Pond Creek (Area D). This area has a high density surface scatter including brick fragments, sandstone fragments (sometimes used for building materials), window glass, cut nails, ceramics, metal, and slag. We set up a grid for controlled surface collection, which we will complete this week. We are also hoping to utilize geophysical survey in this area to better understand what is going on beneath the surface.

The photo to the right is hard to see, but we have a 10 meter by 10 meter grid layed out with stakes and pink string.

Stayed tuned for more information and photographs regarding Area D!

Student Highlight of the Week- JOHN NICHOLLS

John Nicholls graduated from the University of West Florida in 2000 with a B.A. in History. He is married and is blessed with a four year old daughter. He is the owner of a small custom cabinet business. He is glad to be a part of the Arcadia field school this summer.

We are moving right along with our survey excavations! To date, the students have dug approximately 70 shovel tests. We have quickly covered our survey area, though we are always finding new places to investigate. We are constantly battling the dense vegetation and hurricane damage that occurred during the last 10 years. The photo to the right, shows a path that students cut in order to reach their shovel test destination!

The photo to the left provides an idea of what the students are up against when they encounter hurricane damage. However, down trees and dense vegetation does not intimidate the students!!!

We have a nice cluster of positive shovel tests that is in the exact area that domestic artifacts were recovered in 1988. On Friday, a shovel test team recovered blue transfer-print whiteware, brick fragments, and a ceramic base. The ceramic base has blue pooling that is characteristic of pearlware, however the ceramic is very thick like a stoneware. This is definitely a question to be answered at the upcoming Friday field lab- Friday, June 19th 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Left to right: Blue transfer-print whiteware, brick fragment, and ceramic base. The base is most likely from a cup or dish of some nature.

Student Highlight of the Week- CATHERINE ELISE NIEMEYER

Catherine Elise Niemeyer is a Pensacola native, a graduate of the International Baccalaureate Program at Pensacola High School, and a rising senior at Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. In the fall 0f 2008, she spent a semester abroad at the University of Edinburgh. She is an anthropology major, with a particular interest in the anthropology of art and photography. Her minor in classical and near eastern archaeology has predominantly exposed her to the art historical and theoretical aspects of archaeology. Elise hopes to round out her perspective of the discipline of anthropology through fieldwork at Arcadia. After she graduates from Bryn Mawr her plan is to attend graduate school for a degree in anthropology before pursuing a career in the field.

Student Highlight of the Week- SHANE DEBACK

Shane is a senior at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. His major is archaeology with a minor in anthropology. He completed a field school last summer in Wisconsin and wanted to participate in a second field school here at the University of West Florida. He chose UWF due to his interest in historical and underwater archaeology as well as the opportunity to gain more hands on experience.

We are so happy to have Shane here with us as a combination student for the maritime and terrestrial field schools.

Transit Exercise- 08 JUNE 09

Today the students received a transit tutorial and practiced what they learned with an exercise. They learned about horizontal control and how to set up a grid with a transit.

The students also learned about mapping techniques including how to draw a grid. The students will utilize this knowledge when they create a large-scale map of the project area with all of the excavated shovel tests.

Coming Soon!

Each week the blog will highlight one of the Arcadia crew members including a short bio and picture!

Field work commenced- 04 JUNE 09

The first half of the day was spent at the Archaeology Institute due to the potential for bad weather. However, the sun began to shine and we eagerly headed for the site.

The summer investigation plan consists of surveying (shovel testing) the upland area located north of Pond Creek. We hope to locate the village that was associated with the industrial enterprises at Arcadia Mill.

We were ecstatic to find that our first two shovel tests of the summer were positive! Transect 1, shovel test 1 yielded Alkaline-glazed stoneware sherds, bottle glass and brick fragments. Transect 2, shovel test 1 yielded brown bottle glass, brick fragments and fasteners. The dense vegetation and bad weather was overshadowed by the first finds of the season!

The weather was not on our side- 03 JUNE 09

We had great plans for the second day in the field! We were lucky enough to provide an orientation on equipment and methodology before we encountered bad weather. The students learned about all of the equipment and maintenance including sharpening tools and changing mesh in the shaker screens.

We conducted a mock shovel test to demostrate the process involved with archaeological survey. The round shovel test reached a depth of 1 meter right as the rain began to fall. A downpour ensued, causing a mad dash to the outdoor museum pavillion for cover. If only it looked this sunny and nice that day!

We waited out the rain for about an hour before we finally retreated to the UWF campus. We spent the rest of the afternoon at the Archaeology Institute, which served as a safe haven from the rain!

First day at Arcadia Mill- 02 JUNE 09

The first day in the field involved an extensive tour of the site! We started at the outdoor classroom and made our way inside to check out the newly remodeled museum. The museum provided background information to prepare us for a walking tour of the site. The tour included the boardwalk as well as the newly cut paths located north of the dam segments, which lead to the areas of investigation. We had a very productive and informative first day!