Archaeological Investigations at Yourhaney Plantation (38GE18)

ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AT YOURHANEY PLANTATION203While that could suggest a prehistoric building, the fact that it is roughly oriented with other historicstructures and has nearby historic yard features, which are believed to be associated, led us toconclude that the building is historic. The lack of brick, daub, and nails in these features, alongwith the small size of the post, may indicate that the structure is wattled with no clay plaster.Feature 119 is a pit – possibly a hearth – located in the interior, near the center of the structure.However, the feature contained some early 19 th century ceramics and is believed to either postdate the occupation of this structure or the ceramics could have been the result of a later intrusion.Interestingly, wood charcoal was entirely pine, which is uncommon in hearth features as they tendto contain more hardwoods. Faunal remains included large mammal, bird, fish, and bivalves.None of the specimens were burnt, but a few bone fragments contained butcher marks. Thissuggests the possibility that the feature is a trash pit. However, the large quantity of wood charcoalsuggests that the feature was a hearth, although the preponderance of pine is unusual.In what is interpreted to be the front of the structure (north) are a number of features that arebelieved to represent an outdoor activity area given their similar fill. This includes Feature 124which is interpreted to represent an 18 th century yard hearth. This feature contained a largequantity of fish scales as did some of the surrounding posts. It also contained large mammal,raccoon, and bird. Ethnobotanical remains were a mixture of hardwoods, which is consistent withits function as a hearth. Most of the yard features also contained some clay mottling, suggestingthat they area associated. Of interest is that Feature 124 contains a portion of what is believed tobe colonoware associated with an enslaved Native American. The MCD on this feature is 1749,indicating that this is associated with the earlier end of the occupation span.In looking at the yard features associated with this structure (104, 106, 111, 113, 119, 121, 122,123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, and 305), an early MCD of 1765 is obtained (Table 31).Most of the ceramics are low status Staffordshire slipwares and undecorated cream colored wares.Nineteen colonowares were also recovered from this area. By removing what may be intrusivewhiteware in Feature 119, the MCD is pushed back to 1753 (Table 32).Structure 4 – Outbuilding or Ferry Operator’s HouseStructure 4 is a large square building oriented N6°E. The core measures approximately 13 by 23feet and there appears to be a shed extension measuring 8 by 18 feet and intruding into Feature24. During mechanical stripping of this area, a relatively dense concentration of brick/daubrubble was noted along the east wall, overlying Feature 24 and incorporating Feature 50. Thismay be the remnant of a brick chimney. However no evidence of the base was found. This areaof rubble corresponds with the densest area of brick rubble identified by Weeks (see Figure 16). Itis also in the area where Weeks found the most whiteware ceramics. Although no solid evidencefor a chimney base was found, it is possible that the building was heated by a woodstove and thebrick concentration is the remnants of a flue. Therefore, it is possible that the ferry operators used itfor occupation in the 19 th century. Note that in Table 22 the ceramics produced two temporallydistinct brackets – the second dating from about 1830 to 1860. The early bracket is probablyassociated with Feature 24 and yard midden, while the second bracket is possibly associated withthis structure.