Plate 11. East pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong> EUs 4 and 5 showing south bisection <strong>of</strong> Feature 23 (erosion trench) and <strong>the</strong> completed excavation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ca. 1820 patio wall builder’s trench (Feature 22).
NEW CASTLE COURT HOUSE PLAZA NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE 3.0 FIELD RESULTS Feature 25 Feature 25 was identified as a concave erosion trench cutting into intact subsoil within EUs 6, 8, and 26. The lowest fill layer (SU E) appears to cap this feature, which has an overall length <strong>of</strong> 8.4 ft. and <strong>the</strong> depth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> excavated portion measured 0.32 ft. into <strong>the</strong> surrounding subsoil. A total <strong>of</strong> 22 artifacts were recovered from <strong>the</strong> sampled portion within EU 8. The assemblage includes bone and oyster shell fragments, a 7/64th diameter ball clay pipe stem fragment, unidentified bottle fragments, brick, and window glass fragments. A late seventeenth century occupation may be inferred from <strong>the</strong> single pipe fragment. Feature 37 Feature 37 appears to be a concave erosion trench, identified at <strong>the</strong> base <strong>of</strong> Feature 19, within <strong>the</strong> subsoil in EUs 9, 24, and 27 on <strong>the</strong> east plaza (Plate 12). A section was sampled within EUs 9 and 24 and 129 artifacts including a chert flake, bone, clam and oyster shell fragments, ball clay pipe bowl and stem fragments, brass straight pins, redware, pearlware, white salt-glazed stoneware, Chinese export porcelain, unidentified bottle glass, an unidentified metal object, cut/wrought nail, brick and mortar fragment, and window glass were recovered. Based on <strong>the</strong> undecorated pearlware sherd, a TPQ <strong>of</strong> 1779 was assigned. 3.5.7 MODERN DISTURBANCE Feature 50 Feature 50 was identified within EU 14 and is located near <strong>the</strong> southwestern corner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> circa 1732 section. This poured concrete footer, similar in morphology to Feature 6, which was identified during <strong>the</strong> 1995 DSM fieldwork, cuts through <strong>the</strong> circa 1820 foundation sand and measures 1.05 by 0.65 ft. in plan. Eleven artifacts were collected from <strong>the</strong> fill deposit overlying this feature and recovered items include a brass button, one redware sherd, two cut/wrought nails, and seven fragments <strong>of</strong> window glass. As previously mentioned, this feature appears to mirror Feature 6 and was dated by <strong>the</strong> DSM to <strong>the</strong> ca. 1955 restoration. Features 94 and 95 Feature 94 represents an earlier flagpole foundation partially overlain by Feature 95, <strong>the</strong> foundation for <strong>the</strong> existing flagpole. Both are constructed <strong>of</strong> concrete with <strong>the</strong> flagpole set within <strong>the</strong> center. The earlier foundation was identified after <strong>the</strong> east plaza foundation material was removed. No artifacts were found in association with ei<strong>the</strong>r feature. 3.5.8 POSSIBLE PALISADE TRENCHES Three features were documented within <strong>the</strong> exposed sections <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> excavated plaza that are likely <strong>the</strong> remnants <strong>of</strong> palisade trenches. Two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se trenches, Features 24/29 and 27/45, extend parallel with <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn façade <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Court</strong> House, while <strong>the</strong> third trench, Feature 39, is orientated perpendicularly along <strong>the</strong> east side. No artifacts were recovered from <strong>the</strong> sectioned portions which may indicate <strong>the</strong> early nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se features. Supporting this notion is <strong>the</strong> fact that every o<strong>the</strong>r documented feature was intrusive into this feature category. Features 24 and 29 Features 24 and 29 represent <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn palisade trench, which has an east-west orientation and extends nearly <strong>the</strong> full length <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> circa 1820 plaza. The western edge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> trench begins at <strong>the</strong> eastern side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> brick wall, Feature 58, on <strong>the</strong> western plaza and it appears to terminate within EU 28 on <strong>the</strong> east plaza for a total feature length <strong>of</strong> approximately 73.5 ft. (Figures 5 and 6; Plate 13). It is unclear, however, if this point constitutes <strong>the</strong> eastern edge, or simply where it was 45
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