Report of the Archaeological Investigations of the New Castle Court ...

NEW CASTLE COURT HOUSE PLAZA
NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE
3.0 FIELD RESULTS
was initially identified within EU 6 and thickened toward the eastern and southern edges of the
plaza. The depth of this deposit ranged from less than 0.1 ft. within EU 6 to a maximum
measured depth of 1.1 ft. within EU 11 and a high density of artifacts was noted. Hue and chroma
for this layer ranged from dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4), brown (10YR 5/3), and yellowish
brown (10YR 5/4) silt loam to silt clay loam mottled with brown (10YR 4/3), yellowish brown
(10YR 5/6), and brownish yellow (10YR 5/6) silt loam with brick and mortar inclusions. The
third fill deposit corresponded to a distinct layer of beach sand that was originally identified
during the 1995 plaza excavation. The munsell color of this lower sand deposit was slightly
darker when compared to the upper sand layer and its texture was less coarse. This layer was
comprised of brown (10YR 4/3, 5/3), dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4, 4/6), yellowish brown
(10YR 5/4), to light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sand to loamy sand with less than 40 percent
pea gravel and thickness ranged from approximately 0.4 to 0.7 ft. within the excavated units. The
lowest fill deposit corresponded to a thin approximately 0.2 to 0.35 ft. wide artifact rich layer that
directly overlay an alluvial wash deposit or intact B horizon. The base fill, originally assigned
Feature 19 when it was initially identified, was encountered within 10 excavation units on the
eastern plaza (corresponding to EUs 6 through 9, and 23 through 28). This stratigraphic unit
typically consisted of dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) to brown (7.5YR 4/3, 10YR 4/3) loamy
sand to silt loam with brick and mortar inclusions as was similar in appearance and artifact
content to the second fill layer. Overlying a portion of the subsoil within the southeastern most
units, was a thin alluvium, ranging in thickness from 0.01 to 0.31 ft., comprised of yellowish
brown (10YR 5/4) silt loam to silt. Subsoil on the east plaza consisted of yellowish brown (10YR
5/4, 5/6) silt loam to silty clay loam.
Table 1. Stratigraphic Units within the Eastern Plaza
SU Level Description TPQ Mean Standard Deviation Corresponding Unit and Level
Date Range
Designations
A Organic Accumulation 1895 1835.8 1766.5-1905.0 1.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1, 10.1, 11.1, 12.1
B Upper Sand Deposit 1810 1790.3 1767.1-1813.5 1.2, 4.2, 5.3, 6.2, 7.2, 8.2a, 8.2b, 9.2, 10.2,
10.3, 11.2, 12.2
C Upper Silt Loam Deposit 1795 1779.3 1751.6-1807.0 4.3b, 5.5, 6.3, 7.3, 8.3, 9.3, 10.4, 11.4, 12.4
D Lower Sand Deposit 1779 1754.9 1726.4-1783.3 1.3, 4.4, 5.6, 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, 9.4
E Lower Silt Loam Deposit 1810 1778.6 1753.7-1803.5 6.5, 7.5, 8.6, 9.5, 9.5a, 9.6, 23.2, 24.2, 26.2,
(Feature 19)
27.2, 27.3, 28.2, 28.3
F Alluvium 1779 1785.6 1758.6-1812.6 9.9, 24.3, 27.4, 28.4
G Subsoil (B horizon) --- --- --- 1.5, 4.6, 5.8, 6.6, 7.6, 8.11, 9.10, 23.5, 24.8,
25.5, 26.3, 27.5, 28.5
3.1.1 ORGANIC ACCUMULATION (SU A)
A variety of artifacts totaling 200 were collected from the accumulated organic layer at the top of
the excavation units. Recovered items include floral and faunal remains which includes a seed
and two bone fragments; personal items such as metal and porcelain buttons and a ball clay pipe
bowl fragment; buff-bodied earthenware, redware, creamware, pearlware, and white salt-glazed
stoneware ceramic sherds; unidentified bottle glass; architectural items such as cut/wrought nails,
mortar and brick fragments, and window glass. Modern items were also recovered, such as coal
fragments, a drill bit, a machine made light bulb fragment, and wire nails that accumulated within
the brick voids. The condition of the east plaza was largely undisturbed. The only noted
disturbance related to small fill deposits adjacent to the interior portions of the foundation walls
(attributed to erosion of the original foundation material). These pockets of (recent) fill were
removed separately and typically did not contain any cultural material. A calculated TPQ of 1895,
21