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

NEW CASTLE COURT HOUSE PLAZA
NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE
3.0 FIELD RESULTS
artifact was recovered from the organic deposit and the sand layer, while the upper transition and
brick demo layers contained two and three dateable artifacts respectively. The assigned dates for
the upper four layers, corresponding to stratigraphic units L through O, should be used
tentatively.
Table 3. Stratigraphic Units within the Western Plaza Expansion
SU Level Description TPQ Mean Standard Deviation Corresponding Unit and
Date Range Level Designations
L Organic Accumulation 1779 1804.5 1804.5 20.1, 21.1, 22.1
M Sand Deposit 1740 1757.5 1757.5 20.2, 21.2, 22.2
N Upper Transition Level 1780 1804.75 1804.5-1805 20.3, 21.3, 22.3
O Brick and Mortar Demolition
Level
1795 1804 1796.9-1811.2 20.4, 21.4, 22.4
P Lower Transition Level --- --- --- 20.5
Q Buried Topsoil (Ap horizon) 1779 1800.4 1795.7-1805.1 20.7, 22.6
R Subsoil (B horizon) --- --- --- 20.9, 22.7
3.3.1 ORGANIC ACCUMULATION (SU L)
A total of 38 artifacts were collected from the accumulated organic material between the brick
spacers within this newest constructed section of the plaza. Recovered artifacts include coal,
oyster shell fragments, one pipe stem fragment, a pearlware sherd, unidentified bottle glass,
machine made screws, nails, and window glass. A TPQ of 1779 was calculated for this level
based on a plain pearlware sherd from EU 22. This sherd of pearlware represents the only
diagnostic artifact from this assemblage and this date should be used with care.
3.3.2 SAND DEPOSIT (SU M)
Only 29 artifacts were recovered from the sand layer within the 1845 plaza section. Recovered
items include one chert flake, coal, bone, oyster shell fragments, redware, an unidentified ceramic
with a blue glaze, white salt-glazed stoneware, free-blown bottle glass, tin flashing, nails, brick
fragments, and window glass. The only dated artifact from this assemblage consisted of a white
salt-glazed stoneware sherd from EU 21. A TPQ of 1740 was assigned to this layer, but based on
the porosity of dateable artifacts this date should be used tentatively.
3.3.3 UPPER TRANSITION LEVEL (SU N)
A total of 58 artifacts were recovered from this level including one chalcedony flake, coal, bone,
oyster shell fragments, a brass button, redware, pearlware, porcelain, unidentified bottle glass, a
metal storage lid, metal hardware, nails, mortar and brick fragments, and window glass. A
molded pearlware sherd within EU 21 yielded a TPQ of 1780. Because of the small dated
assemblage, these dates should be used cautiously.
3.3.4 BRICK AND MORTAR DEMOLITION LEVEL (SU O)
Only 121 artifacts were collected from this architectural demolition layer. The majority of
artifacts were comprised of mortar and brick fragments, tin flashing, nails, and window glass. The
brick and mortar was not weighed in the field due to the sheer quantity that was present.
Additional non-architectural artifacts include bone, clam and oyster shell fragments, a brass
button, a brass straight pin, redware, creamware, pearlware, and an unidentified bottle fragment.
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