Archaeological Investigations at Yourhaney Plantation (38GE18)

ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AT YOURHANEY PLANTATION171Of this group, one element was identified as coming from bass (Percichthyidae). A single valvefragment from a common quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria) was also recovered. None of thefaunal remains from this feature showed indications of burning, calcination, or butchering.Rat remains are numerous in this feature and may be commensal in nature. The elements indicatethat at least three individuals are represented. While it is possible these rodents could have beenused for food, it is more likely that they were killed and placed here or died from natural causes.Feature 124 (Historic Hearth)Faunal remains from Feature 124 consist of a variety of species. Large and very large mammalsare evidenced by longbone shaft fragments. An innominate from a raccoon (Procyon lotor) wasrecovered and most likely indicates harvest from the area around the site. This species could havebeen harvested on an encounter basis or intentionally targeted. Bird (Aves) elements consist ofseveral vertebrae and longbone shaft fragments. Remains of bony fish are fairly abundant, butinflated due to the number of scales present. These remains could, if viewed conservatively,represent a single individual. Lastly, a single mollusca shell fragment was recovered from thisfeature.Feature 124a (Historic Post)Faunal remains recovered from Feature 124a are similar to those found in Feature 124 in terms ofspecies composition and diversity. Bony fish (Osteichthyes) again dominates the featureassemblage with a total of 20 elements, though most of this number consists of fish scales. A singlesunfish/bass (Centrachidae/Percichthyidae) articular was identified and came off an individualapproximately 35 to 40 cm Standard Length (SL). A single indeterminate vertebrate element boresigns of butchering.Feature 127 (Historic Post)Feature 127 contained a mixture of fish, large mammal, and bird. None of the remains showssigns of burning, calcination, or buthchering.Feature 128 (Historic Post)Two faunal elements were recovered from Feature 128. Both were identified as coming fromindeterminate vertebrates. No evidence of burning, calcination, or butchering was noted in theseelements.Feature 129 (Historic Post)Faunal remains from Feature 129 consist of bird (Aves) and indeterminate vertebrate elements.Little subsistence information could be gleaned from this small number of bones.Feature 130 (Historic Pit with Post)Faunal remains from Feature 130 consist entirely of bird (Aves) elements. These specimens showno signs of thermal alteration or butchering.