Taylor-Bray Farm Locus 2 and 3 Site Examination Report ... · Taylor-Bray Farm Locus 2 and 3 Site Examination Report September 2014 B. Prehistoric Context New England's prehistory

Taylor-Bray Farm Locus 2 and 3 Site Examination Report September 2014

I. PROJECT CONTEXT

In 2011 the Taylor Bray Farm Preservation Association (TBFPA) and the Town of Yarmouth contracted

with the Plymouth Archaeological Rediscovery Project (PARP) to conduct a Phase I Intensive

(Locational) Archaeological Survey on their behalf. Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding paid

for the Phase I Survey. PARP conducted the Phase I Survey on 11 of the 23 acres of the property under

permit number 3270 issued by the State Archaeologist, assisted by field technicians and volunteers. The

Taylor-Bray Farm is located on 23 acres of town-owned property adjacent to salt marshes associated

with Chase Garden Creek in the Hockanom section of east Yarmouth, Massachusetts (Figure 1). The

property consists of one house and associated barn, built circa 1780-1800, a blacksmith shop that has

been converted into the current caretaker's residence, a semi-subterranean agrarian storage structure,

and five recently constructed livestock sheds, and a historic marker affixed to a large glacial erratic

(Figure 2). Originally, this area was seasonally occupied by ancient Native Americans and later by

members of the historical Mattacheeset tribe. Richard Taylor and his wife, Ruth, are the first

documented owners of the property. Their descendants and subsequently members of Bray family,

retained ownership of the land until 1941. The property changed hands many times before it was

acquired by the Town in 1987. The site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992

and is managed cooperatively by the Town of Yarmouth and the non-profit (TBFPA). The barn has

been renovated and restored and now serves as a working barn and office. Current plans are for the

restoration and preservation of the farmhouse and use of it as a museum and educational space.

The Town and the TBFPA are currently focusing their efforts on the restoration of the ca. 1800 standing

farmhouse. Priorities following the completion of the farmhouse project are not formalized as of fall

2013, but activities that are proposed include the following: the expansion of the in-field irrigation

system into the northern fields; repositioning of the current fence lines; paddock expansion; and

rehabilitation of the extant barn with the possible altering of in ground utilities and access routes. None

of these future construction, renovation, or demolition projects have proceeded beyond the initial

planning stages and thus, no draft plans are available. The TBFPA and the Town requested a Phase I

Survey to help plan where and to what extent new construction, alterations, and renovations may be

safely carried out with a minimal impact to archaeological resources.

During the Phase I Survey archaeologists excavated 226 50 x 50- centimeter (cm) Shovel Test Pits

(STPs). Archaeologists recovered cultural material from approximately 113 of those STPS and

identified two historic period sites: the Richard and Ruth Taylor Homesite (ca. 1646-1780) and the

Samuel and Lucretia Taylor Homesite (ca. 1780 to present.) (Figure 3). During the Phase I survey

archaeologists also identified five prehistoric sites: the Knoll Site, a low density scatter of lithics and

one piece of shell-tempered pottery located in the same area as the Richard and Ruth Taylor Homesite;

the Bray Farm Site, another low density lithic scatter; the Locus 1 Site, a concentration of fire-

cracked rock and debitage that was concentrated in one test pit; the Locus 2 Site, a large area of lithic

scatter and a Small Stemmed point find spot in active pasture land; and the Locus 3 Site, a large area

of lithic scatter with two post molds, one possible storage pit, and several isolated finds (Figure 3).

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Figure 1. Location of the Taylor-Bray Farm archaeological sites on the USGS topographic map Dennis

quad

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Figure 2. Aerial view of the Taylor Bray Farm (source: Google Earth)

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Figure 3. Locations of archaeological sites identified during the 2011 intensive survey

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Because the Locus 2 and Locus 3 sites are in areas that may be subjected to potential impacts such as

utility installation, plowing, outbuilding, and fence construction, these sites were recommended for

further testing at the Phase II Site Examination Survey level.

This report presents the results of the Phase II Site Examination Survey of the Locus 2 and Locus 3

sites, conducted in the fall of 2013 under Massachusetts State Archaeologist permit number 3421. The

field work was carried out and the report generated in compliance with MGL c.9, ss. 26-27C

(950CMR70).

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II RESULTS OF PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS

PARP conducted a Phase I Survey at the Taylor Bray Farm project area in August 2011 under

Massachusetts State Archaeologist permit number 3270. The following are the results of that survey.

A. Environmental Context

The Town of Yarmouth is located on Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound in Barnstable County. It is

bordered on the west by Barnstable, on the east by Dennis, on the north by Cape Cod Bay, and on the

south by Nantucket Sound. Water bodies in the town include ponds, meadows, swamps, freshwater and

brackish marshes, kettle hole bogs, and vernal pools. Drainage in the northern portion of the town near

the project area is via Chase Garden Creek. Three geologic areas exist in Yarmouth. A range of east to

west running hills exists approximately one mile south of Cape Cod Bay. These represent the southern

extent of the Sandwich Moraine. The area to the north of these hills is somewhat uneven and slopes to

the Bay. This represents lake and lake bottom deposits and swamps and marshes are common here. The

southern half of the town is the Harwich Outwash Plain, a sloping land form the eventually enters

Nantucket Sound. The Harwich Outwash Plain consists of stratified deposits eroded from the Sandwich

Moraine and deposited by glacial melt water as the glaciers receded. Elevations in the north half of the

town are 100 feet (ft.) or less above sea level (ASL) while in the south half they reach up to 50 ft. ASL.

Three types of soils are present within the survey area: Carver coarse sand, Pipestone loamy coarse

sand, and Freetown coarse sand. Carver coarse sand (on 3-8% slopes) covers most of the survey area.

Soils in this series make up the majority of those in the town and are very deep, extremely well-drained

and sandy, being ill-suited for agriculture because of their permeability. They are formed on outwash

plains, in sandy or loose sandy glaciofluvial deposits. Rocks found in this series range from fine gravel

to stones and generally average less than 10% of the soil. A strip of Pipestone loamy coarse sand is

located along the northwest edge of the property. These soils are very deep, and poorly drained,

commonly occurring in low areas bordering streams and swamps. Pipestone soils are formed on

terraces, in loose sandy glaciofluvial deposits. These soils are best suited for woodlands and grasses

and poorly suited for most crops. A pocket of Freetown coarse sand is located in the western third of

the property. Freetown soils are very deep, level and poorly drained, being formed in bogs and

depressions adjacent to streams, ponds and lakes and commonly used for cranberry bogs. Based on the

soils present, the areas of Carver coarse sand have the highest probability for containing archaeological

or historical resources.

The Taylor-Bray Farm is located in the northeastern corner of Yarmouth in the Hockanom section of

the town. It is bordered on the north by the Black Flats tidal marsh and the entire area is protected by a

barrier beach (Chapin Memorial Beach). Chase Garden Creek and White's Brook cut through Black

Flats from the opening of the marsh at Bass Hole. The farm originally extended from the marsh to

Route 6 A to the south. The project area is located within .8 kilometers (km) of Cape Cod Bay, a salt

water resource, within 152 meters (m) of Chase Garden Creek, an estuary environment, and adjacent to

several freshwater sources. The presence and proximity of three types of water resources--salt water,

estuary, and fresh water--so close to the project area adds to its potential attractiveness to Native

people.

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B. Prehistoric Context

New England's prehistory is poorly understood relative to that of other regions in North America.

Throughout the majority of the region’s prehistory, river drainages defined physiographic units within

which human communities operated. This pattern follows from the longitudinal diversity of habitats

that occur along drainages, forming ecologically unique wetland habitats, together with the

transportation routes afforded by their watercourses. In the clearest examples, rivers provide access to

maritime and upland resources at each end of the drainage, and to the diverse habitats in between. The

exploitation of those habitats can be integrated into a seasonal round that differs at various historical

moments.

The prehistory of southern New England is divided into seven periods, each identified by

characteristics such as specific projectile point styles, the presence, absence, and decoration on pottery,

and by other items of material culture. These periods are the Paleo-Indian (10,500-9,000 BP), Early

Archaic (9,000-8,000 BP), Middle Archaic (8,000-6,000 BP), Late Archaic (6,000-3,000 BP), Early

Woodland (3,000-2,000 BP), Middle Woodland (2,000-1,000 BP) and Late Woodland (1,000-350 BP).

These cultural periods also are distinguishable on the basis of changing patterns of site location,

activities, and size.

Paleo-Indian Period 10,500-9,000 BP

Although there is new research being conducted all the time, the present theory is that the people who

first settled in New England arrived in the New World at the end of the Pleistocene or final ice age,

approximately 13,000 years ago (B.P./before present). Before this time, New England and much of the

northern half of the United States was covered by a glacier that was up to 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers

[km]) thick in some areas. Ice ages are part of the Earth’s natural warming and cooling cycle. For a

currently unknown reason, approximately 60,000 years ago Earth's temperature dropped a few degrees,

sufficient to cause the glaciers and ice caps to develop. By approximately 20,000 years ago the edges of

the northern ice sheet had reached its maximum extent just south of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket

and began to recede. Called moraine and outwash soils, this material developed into the sandy hills,

drumlins, eskers, and kames that comprise the contemporary landscape. Interspersed with this material

are "glacial erratics," large, isolated rocks that occasionally dot New England's landscape.

Following glacial retreat, southern New England's climate gradually warmed and facilitated the

development of a southern tundra where patches of grass and shrub developed. Pollen cores indicate

the presence of sedge, alder. There was also a lot more landscape than there is today because the oceans

were approximately 300-400 ft. (91-122 meters [m]) lower than they are today, meaning that the

coastline was up to 50 miles (mi./~ 80 km) to the east of its present position. This left exposed large

portions of land, like George’s Banks, that are today underwater. The islands that we see today in many

coastal harbors, were at this time hills on a barren landscape and many of the rivers that we know today

were nothing more than springs or small streams.

Sites of the Paleo-Indian and Early Archaic periods are most frequently located across and around

drained lake beds that formed at the end of the Pleistocene. These sites are generally small, and often

represent single episodes or short events involving hunting and gathering, or natural resource

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processing. Archaeologically there is little evidence of the Paleo-Indian period on Cape Cod with one

of the reasons for the paucity of finds possibly related to the fact that during this period the coastline

was approximately 100 miles (~300 km) to the east and south of today’s George’s Banks. The result of

this distant shoreline is that more attractive sites may have been located near the paleo-shore and are

now flooded. In addition, recently deglaciated areas were slow to develop soil and vegetative cover

that would support game, and thus human settlement (Pielou 1991). Climatic considerations may also

be important. Estimates for the date of the Sandwich Moraine range around approximately 20,400 BP,

with the formation of the Lake Taunton and Lake Cape Cod ice margin by around 19,700 BP. By about

16,400 BP, the glaciers may have receded only about as far as Boston (Ridge 2003:30-34). No Paleo-

Indian materials have been recovered in situ on the outer Cape, with one fluted point having been

recovered from Eastham, constituting the total of the evidence on the Outer Cape for occupation at this

time (Johnson 1997: 17). On the shore of the Bass River in Yarmouth, a cache of possible Paleo-Indian

Eden blades of Mt. Kineo felsite from Maine was recovered from a tree fall (Dunford 1997: 32).

Diagnostic late Paleo-Indian projectile points have also been found in kettle hole and riverine locations

in Barnstable and in Harwich (Davin 1989; Mahlstedt 1987; Mahlstedt 1985).

Early Archaic 9,000-8,000 BP

The extinction of the megafauna and the changing climate led to a revamping of the Paleo-Indian way

of life around 10,000 years ago. The environment in the Early Archaic had warmed slightly and as a

result, trees such as oaks, pitch pines, beeches and hazel began to flourish. It was during this time that

contemporary major rivers began to form. Anadromous fish species, such as salmon and herring, ran

seasonally from the Atlantic up to spawning grounds along these rivers, providing a rich food source

for New England's Archaic inhabitants. At the same time new mammalian species, such as black bear,

deer, and moose, entered the area.

Evidence of the Early Archaic peoples’ process of “settling in” is visible in their use of local volcanic

materials such as rhyolite and felsite for tools and projectile points and their possible use of quartz for

quick, expendable tools. Hunting during this period may have taken the form of spear throwing with

the use of the atl-atl, a hand-held, weighted stick into which a spear was inserted. The atl-atl provided

an extension of the hunter's arm, thereby effectively increasing the distance, force, and accuracy of the

weapon.

Like the preceding Paleo-Indian period, little evidence exists for occupation on the Outer Cape during

the Early Archaic. One bifurcate base point was recovered from the Chase Farm site in Eastham and a

bifurcate base point base was recovered from the Nauset trail on the Cape Cod National Seashore

(Dimmick 2006: 2). During the Early Archaic the sea levels were still approximately 25 m (84 ft.)

below their present level, but the Cape was covered by a mixture of oak and pine forest.

Middle Archaic 8,000-6,000 BP

While the Early Archaic period represents a transition from Paleo-Indian nomadism, the succeeding

Middle Archaic indicates a modest tendency for permanent settlement and environmental stability.

Oceans remained approximately 29 ft. (~10 m) lower than they are today but the rate of rise had slowed

enough for estuaries to begin forming. The formation of estuaries led to the establishment and

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proliferation of shellfish beds. Shellfish first settled in the warmer southern waters and eventually

moved northward as the sea level rise slowed and waters warmed.

By 7,000 years ago contemporary-like forests were in evidence and archaeological assemblages include

heavy, woodworking tools (axes, adzes, and gouges) to exploit forest resources, possibly indicating the

construction of log canoes or at least an increase in woodworking. Evidence for hunting using atl-atls

first appears at this time as well. In fact, the oldest burial in New England, 7500 years ago, was located

in Carver, Massachusetts and contained two atl-atl weights of the whale-tail variety. Sites from this

period are fairly common, indicating that people had begun to spread out over larger areas. It also

indicates that there may have been more people in Massachusetts than before.

Sites of the Middle and Late Archaic tend to appear at the edges of upland wetlands, ponds, and

streams, and on the banks of rivers. The upland interior sites tend to be small and represent episodes of

special activities, with larger, repeatedly used sites appearing next to large wetlands and at fords or

rapids in rivers. Middle Archaic sites have been identified around kettle holes on the Outer and Inner

Cape in areas distant from rivers and other reliable freshwater supplies (Davin and Gallagher 1987;

McManamon et al 1984). On the Lower Cape, the Upper Mill Pond Site in Brewster’s Stony Brook

Valley yielded specialized tools, points, scrapers, and hammerstones possibly used to harvest and

process the more seasonally available resources of this time. The site lies on a kettle pond

approximately 50 ft. (~16 m) ASL. On the Inner Cape, Neville and Otter Creek points have been

recovered from Child's River at the head of Waquoit Bay in Falmouth (Mahlstedt 1985). Stark-like

points were recovered during a cultural resource management survey of Camp Edwards at the Round

Swamp Site and elsewhere on the property (Davin and Gallagher 1987; Herbster 2004). A possible

Stark point was also recovered from the Fox Run 5 site along the Santuit River in Mashpee, although

there is some dispute as to whether it is in fact a Stark or an Early Woodland Rossville variant (Shaw

and McArdle 1987).

Middle Archaic sites on the Outer Cape are often located within estuaries or adjacent to tidal flats on

the Bay side of the Cape with other sites being situated on rivers draining into Cape Cod Bay or on

extensive salt marshes surrounding the confluence of a number of streams not far from Cape Cod Bay

(MHC 1986: 28). Significant recoveries of Middle Archaic points have been made along the Herring

and Bass Rivers in Dennis, Yarmouth and Harwich: (Bells Neck Road I Site, Swan River [19-BN-31],

Blue Rock [19-BN-562], Narrows River 2 and 4 Sites [19-BN-761 and 763], Mayfair Narrows Site

[19-BN-599], Bass River Lane Site [19-BN-566], Nickerson/ Bush Site [19-BN-563]). The Kelly's Bay

[19-BN-570] and Sea Street Beach [19-BN-586] sites along the southern coast in Dennis indicate that

Middle Archaic populations were also utilizing the areas that are today Cape Cod's southern coastline.

Late Archaic 6,000-3,000 BP

At present, the Late Archaic period is the archaeologically most visible Pre-Contact period in

Massachusetts, and thus most prevalent in the literature. This has been interpreted by many as

indicating a very large number of people living in our area during this period, although archaeologists

are not sure why this happened. The case may also be made that this proliferation of stone tools and

sites may be more related to a wider variety of stone tools being manufactured for specific purposes

and a wide variety of habitats being exploited as opposed to a population boom. It is possible that

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increased archaeological visibility might be related to the growth of special purpose stone tools and

diverse habitat exploitation, more than population increase. Certainly, the tool kits of people living in

Massachusetts' coastal areas differ to stone tool assemblages from Maine and further north, and are

similarly distinct to occupants of New York's boreal forests.

Along coastal Massachusetts, the combination of stabilizing sea levels and estuary formation led to

significant runs of anadromous fish by the Late Archaic. As a way of taking maximum advantage of

these fish runs, Native people began using weirs in the rivers, streams and bays. In fact, one of the

largest weirs found anywhere in the world was encountered in what was once Boston Harbor (Decima

and Dincauze 1998). It is believed that the weir was constructed approximately 5,000 years ago and

covered several acres. Weirs of a smaller scale were undoubtedly employed in most of the bays, rivers

and larger streams in southeastern Massachusetts.

Unlike the preceding periods, the Late Archaic is well represented on the Outer Cape, and throughout

Southeastern Massachusetts. A number of Late Archaic shell midden sites were identified in the High

Head section of Truro during McManamon’s archaeological survey of the Cape Cod National Seashore,

indicating possibly a greater use of shellfish during this period (McManamon 1984: 348). Other Late

Archaic sites include a single, Laurentian tradition Otter Creek projectile point (19-BN-274) and

another from Nickerson's Neck in Chatham (McManamon 1984). Small Stemmed Tradition sites are

better represented on the Outer Cape with 20 of the sites identified by McManamon yielding

Squibnocket Triangle and Small Stemmed points. Small Stemmed tradition sites occur in a wide variety

of environmental settings. Susquehanna tradition sites, characteristic of the Transitional Archaic, have

been identified in Orleans (the Coburn site) and also were recovered during McManamon's Survey. The

latter include one possible Atlantic point, seven Susquehanna/ Wayland Notched points, and two Orient

Fishtail points, all diagnostic of the Transitional Archaic period

Early Woodland 3,000-2,000 BP

Following the Terminal Archaic is an ill-defined time labeled the Early Woodland by New England

archaeologists. Characteristics originally associated with the Early Woodland (pottery production and

horticulture) have recently been dated prior to the Woodland, leading some researchers to suggest that

the period is poorly or inappropriately designated (Snow 1980). Dean Snow (1980), for example,

suggests that there is no break between the Terminal Archaic and the Early Woodland, but rather a

continual flux and diversity over 1,000 years. Elena Filios concludes that "... the chronological picture

(for the Early Woodland) is more murky than previously suspected. ...the horizon markers (of this

period) need to be reevaluated." (Filios 1989:87). Traditional horizon markers for the Early Woodland

have included Vinette I pottery, which has been shown to have been produced before the Early

Woodland, an absence of Small Stemmed points, which have been shown to have continued in use into

the Early Woodland, and increased sedentism, which appears to have begun before the Early Woodland,

and horticulture, which in New England was not intensively practiced until after 1000 A.D.

Some of the trends identified above, the decreased population and fragmentation, are based on the

small number of Early Woodland sites that have been identified. In addition, decreased population and

fragmentation are based on the small number of identified Early Woodland sites, but this assumed

absence of sites might be attributed to other causes. For example, if one includes sites yielding Small

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Stemmed points but no pottery, as these may represent special purpose floral or faunal resource

procurement task camps and not residential locations, the number of sites possibly attributable to the

Early Woodland increases. Due to the increasingly long temporal use range for Small Stemmed points,

their presence or absence can no longer be used as valid "datable" criteria to assign the site to one

period or another. What is needed is more radiocarbon dates associated with specific materials. Until

this occurs the Early Woodland will remain obscure and ill-defined.

A dramatic population collapse has traditionally been one of the defining characteristics of the Early

Woodland. Filios (1989) came to a similar conclusion although her data shows a break in radiocarbon

dates from 2,700-2,400 years B.P. possibly showing a population decline after 3,800 years B.P. and a

greater decline after 2800 years B.P. If there was in fact a population collapse, reasons for it have

included climatic and environmental change, epidemics, the effects of plant and animal die-offs and

socio-cultural factors. Perhaps plant disease or environmental change reduced the number of nut

bearing trees used for food resources by Early Woodland peoples causing a population die off.

Populations that had previously focused on coastal resources might have survived by seasonally

exploiting river valley, estuarine, and inshore resources, a scenario supported by the discovery of

distinctive point styles (Rossville and Lagoon forms) in coastal areas.

One of the most important Early to Middle Woodland sites excavated on the Outer Cape is the Carns

Site on Coast Guard Beach in Eastham (Bradley 2005). This site yielded abundant evidence of Fox

Creek phase occupation and was similar to sites in New York's Hudson Valley (Dimmick 2006:11).

Seven other sites have been identified on the Cape Cod National Seashore dating to this period as well.

Middle Woodland 2,000-1,000 BP

This period is marked by a decrease in the number of exotic finished goods indicative of long-distance

trade, and by changes in mortuary practice (increase in secondary interments, less use of ocher, fewer

grave goods, and more variation in preparation of the dead). While the roots of ceramic and lithic

variability are found in the preceding periods, more rapid variation in sequence through time and more

regional variation characterize this period. Ceramics vary more in decoration and form. Lithic

projectile points are less important in the tool kit, and bone and antler tools are preserved at some sites

where matrix conditions are appropriate (Shaw 1996:84-87). By the end of the period there is evidence

of maize horticulture (Thorbahn 1982).

Fox Creek and Steubenville bifaces characterize the early part of period. There is some overlap in time

between the Fox Creek and Jack's Reef points during the Middle Woodland. Fox Creek points are

relatively rare in Eastern Massachusetts with few known from the outer Cape (Truro and Wellfleet) and

Martha's Vineyard. These points are diagnostic of the Middle Woodland Period, occurring from AD

400-700, and they are often found on multi-component sites (sites with multiple time periods

represented) and in areas associated with corn horticulture and decorated ceramics. On Martha's

Vineyard. Fox Creek and Jack's Reef points have been found in association with postmolds outlining an

oval-shaped house measuring 16 ft. (4.9 m) in diameter (Towle 1986: 30). Other projectile point styles

such as Greene points are considered as being used contemporaneously with Fox Creek points in the

earlier period of their use while Jack's Reef points and Levannas first appear in latter half. The people

who used the Fox Creek points are believed to have been seasonally migrational, spending the summers

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on the coast and the winters further inland, and they show many of the cultural characteristics evident

with southeastern Massachusetts' Native people at the time of Contact. Other types of artifacts

commonly found associated with Fox Creek points include exotic lithics like New York state cherts and

Pennsylvania jaspers, Saugus jasper, Blue Hills hornfels and Great Lakes' copper.

Sites dating from this period have been identified from across Cape Cod including Round Swamp in

Bourne, the Fox Run 5 and Santuit River I sites in Mashpee, and the Washburn II site in Falmouth

(Davin and Gallagher 1987; Ingham et al 2000; Mahlstedt 1987). A number of sites dating to this

period have been identified on the Mid-Cape along the Herring and Bass rivers at the Narrows 2 and 4

and Nickerson/ Bush sites (Mahlstedt 1985). One of the most important Early to Middle Woodland

sites excavated on the Outer Cape is the Carns Site on Coast Guard Beach in Eastham (Bradley 2005).

The Carns Site, previously mentioned, contained a significant Middle Woodland component while

three sites identified during McManamon’s survey contained diagnostic Middle Woodland points and

four sites contained diagnostic Middle Woodland pottery. Occupation of the Outer Cape appears to

have had a significant coastal orientation to it, with most sites being located within .5 km of the ocean

(Ingham 2004:20). This presumed coastal focus could also be a result of the other factors as well:

much of the Outer Cape is coastal and thus more sites would be expected to be identified in coastal

settings, the highest yield of natural resources are in coastal areas, and the collection/ survey bias

caused by the Cape Cod National Seashore survey, which of course, was located in a coastal

environment. Only a limited amount of archaeological fieldwork has been conducted on non-coastal

sites on Cape Cod.

Jack's Reef points continue to be used into the Late Woodland. Exotic lithic materials increase in the

Middle Woodland, except in the Champlain drainage. Jack's Reef points are often made of non-local

chert (Shaw 1996:92-93). Some lithic tool types, such as Rossville (Shaw 1996:90) and Small

Stemmed (Hasenstab et al. 1990), continue into the Middle Woodland. Middle Woodland artifacts have

been recovered from the Mid-Cape along the Herring and Bass rivers, especially at the Blue Rock site

in Yarmouth. In Dennis, Middle Woodland material has been recovered from sites along the Bass

River: Narrows 2 and 4, Seawall Midden 2 and 3 (19-BN-755 and 756), Mayfair Narrows, Nickerson/

Bush and Follins Pond Landing (19-BN-549).

Late Woodland Period 1,000-350 BP

This is the period just prior to European contact and as a result, many of the historical reports written

by the early explorers to New England (Verrazzanno [1524], Gosnold [1602], Pring [1603], Smith

[1614]) present one way of understanding the late Late Woodland period. Cultural descriptions

provided by early explorers might extend into the Pre-Contact period, and can be used confidently to

describe the Late Woodland cultures.

Ceramics are often shell-tempered or made with fine grit temper and thinner bodies; there is a shift to

globular forms, and the addition of collars, sometimes decorated with human faces. Elaborate collars

similar to those of Iroquois ceramics are found in the Merrimack and Champlain drainages. Triangular

projectile points are diagnostic for this period, which is marked by increased production of cultivated

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crops (maize, beans, squash, sunflower, and other vegetables) by ca. 1100 BP on Martha's Vineyard

(Ritchie 1969).

Numerous Late Woodland sites occur on the Outer Cape, with the best known and most extensively

studied being the shell middens identified during McManamon’s survey (McManamon 1984). The

shores of Salt Pond in Eastham are known to have been the focus of Late Woodland to Contact Period

Native settlement as well. Levanna points are the most commonly recovered point type east of Harwich

and generally there is less diversity in site locations than during earlier periods. These findings are

consistent with the trend noted by the MHC where 65% of the Late Woodland/ Contact Period sites on

Cape Cod are on the Outer Cape, 30% are on the Mid-Cape, and only 5% are on the Upper Cape (MHC

1986: 65).

C. Historic Context

The Contact Period (1524-1620) was a time a dramatic social, political and personal upheaval for

southeastern Massachusetts Native populations. This period began with amiable trade relations with

European explorers such as Verrazano (1524) and Gosnold (1602), followed by a growing distrust of

Europeans and an increase in hostility between the two, especially on Cape Cod (Pring 1603,

Champlain 1605). This hostility was due primarily to the kidnapping of Native men by Europeans

desirous of returning home with informants or curiosities from the New World (Weymouth 1607, Hunt

under Smith 1614). By the time of the settling of the English at Plymouth (1620) Natives in

southeastern Massachusetts had been decimated by a European epidemic (1616 to 1619), with mortality

rates possibly reaching 100% in some communities.

The first recorded trading encounter in New England occurred in 1524 and involved the Florentine

sailor Giovanni da Verrazano who was sailing for France. Verrazano arrived in Narragansett Bay in

April, 1524 and traded with the natives (Parker 1968:14). He stated that the people were apparently

unfamiliar with Europeans and were very willing to trade and host the visitors. The natives were first

enticed to trade by tossing "some little bells, and glasses and many toys" (Parker 1968:14) to them as

they came to Verrazano's ship in their own boats. The Europeans remained in the harbor until early

May and Verrazano stated that of all of the goods they traded to the natives "...they prized most highly

the bells, azure (blue) crystals, and other toys to hang in their ears and about their necks; they do not

value or care to have silk or gold stuffs, or other kinds of cloth, nor implements of steel or iron."

(Parker 1968: 16). It was also noted that the natives here possessed ornaments of wrought copper

which they prized greater than gold. The copper may have come indirectly through trade with natives

to the north who traded with European fishermen, or it may have been native copper from the Great

Lakes or Bay of Fundy regions.

The next explorer known to have visited southeastern Massachusetts was Bartholomew Gosnold who

arrived at the Elizabeth Islands off Martha's Vineyard in May of 1602. There he traded with the first

natives he encountered, giving them "certain trifles, as knives, points, and such like, which they much

esteemed" (Parker 1968:38). In return for the "trifles," Gosnold's crew received many different types

of fur from animals such as beavers, martens, otters, wild-cats, black foxes, and rabbit skins as well as

deer and seal hides, cedar and sassafras, the latter prized as a cure-all in Europe.

13


The 17th-century Natives (members of the Wampanoag tribe) practiced a mobile economy, migrating

seasonally to exploit a range of resources within their territory. Because resources were unevenly

distributed, the Wampanoag people developed a specialized economy that maintained relatively high

populations (Higgs and Vita-Finzi 1982:28). As regional archaeologist Dr. Frederick Dunford explains,

Cape Cod Natives practiced "conditional sedentism" based on "large multi-component shell-

midden/residential sites located at estuaries, and small habitation sites located in sheltered areas near

freshwater ponds in the early Late Woodland period" (Dunford 1992:3 in Bragdon 1996:59, 61).

A wide variety of plant and animal species could have been exploited by these people. Based on a list

compiled by Roger Williams in Rhode Island, local peoples exploited 10 species of birds, 8 wild plant

species, 4 cultivated plans, 8 wild mammal species, 6 fish species and 5 shellfish species. This source

provides an inventory of local resources available to Woodland cultures but neglects some wild plant

and animals recovered from archaeological contexts. Nonetheless, it reveals that the Natives had a

diverse diet of wild resources which they collected. At least 14 (Alewife, herring, bass, scup, eel,

lampreys, chestnuts, acorns, walnuts, strawberries, lobster, clams, oysters, quahog) of the species noted,

are known to have been extensively collected and stored for the winter by the Contact Period.

These resource exploitation patterns were not random: people scheduled where and when they would

return to various sites to make use of resources. Winslow noted this as early as 1621 when he stated

that “by reason whereof, our bay affording many lobsters, they resort every spring-tide thither; and now

returned with us to Nemasket.”(Young 1974:96). This springtime movement to the coast to catch

lobster was mentioned by Morton; “savages will meet 500 to 1000 at a place where they come in with

the tide to eat and have dried a store, abiding in the place for 4-6 weeks feasting and sporting together."

(Morton 1972:90). According to William Wood, the drying of shellfish and fish took place in the

spring and summer. "In summer these Indian women, when lobsters be in their plenty and prime, they

dry them to keep for winter” (Wood 1977:114).

The Contact Period in Yarmouth is poorly represented but this may be more of a result of the difficulty

of separating Late Woodland from Contact Period occupations, the latter being defined solely on the

presence of European trade artifacts. Little is known regarding the locations of Native trails, but major

trails are postulated to have followed the present day Route 6A with minor trails branching to the north

and south along streams and the peripheries of estuaries. Other trails may have been located along the

route of present day Route 28 and possibly along Bass River. Population centers were likely located in

North Yarmouth. Bass River has yielded extensive archaeological deposits, but while several are dated

to the Late Woodland, none have definitely been dated to the Contact Period. Yarmouth and Dennis

were the location of the Native community of Mattacheese/ Mattacheeset (originally more likely

muttoteuket) a name that means "place of a great amount of planting land" (mutta- great amount +

oteuk- field + et- place of), a name attesting to the potential substantial Native occupation in the area.

This name was ascribed to the area that is now the eastern part of Barnstable and the western portion of

Yarmouth. The name Hockanom (which means "the covered hollow") was attributed to the area from

near White's Brook (South of Old King's Highway between Union Street and Weir Road) to the

Yarmouth/ Dennis border. It may refer to the fact that this part of Yarmouth is partially covered to the

west by Sandy Neck, which may have once extended further to the east. Alternatively, it may refer to

the extensive marshes along Cape Cod Bay in this area which at high tide are covered with water.

14


What is now the Town of Yarmouth included what is now the contemporary town of Dennis during the

Plantation Period (1620-1675). European settlement began in 1638 when Stephen Hopkins was

granted the right to build a house and cut hay in Mattacheese (MHC 1984: 6). His home is believed to

have been located at the junction of Mill Road and Route 6A. The first permanent settlers arrived in

1639 and settlement was concentrated in the northern part of the town along Route 6A (MHC 1984: 5).

These settlers appear to have been part of an organized and authorized settlement effort by Plymouth

Colony. A total of three grantees were listed with 10-15 settlers in 1639, with 10 more arriving in 1640

(MHC 1984: 6). By the end of the period the area's population likely numbered no more than 200

(MHC 1984:5). The town's economy was probably based on agriculture with some limited attempts at

fishing and possibly the recovery of beached whales. The first meeting house was built in 1640 and

measured 30 x 40 ft. (9 x 12 m) with 13 ½ ft. (~4.1 m) high posts (MHC 1984: 10)

Two sachems from Mattacheese are known to have sold land to the settlers: Masshantampaigne

(sachem of the Nobscussets of North Dennis and East Yarmouth) and Janno, successor of Jannough

(sachem of the western part of the Yarmouth and the southeast to the Bass River) (MHC 1984: 7). John

Eliot began missionary work in Yarmouth in 1648. Native populations remained in town after

European settlement with a Christian community located at Bass River by 1674 when Richard Bourne

noted a population of 70 individuals. (MHC 1984: 6).

The Colonial Period (1675-1775) saw population growth up to 1776 with a sharp decrease in the

Native population (MHC 1984: 7). A Native reservation was created as the result of the 1710-1715

division of common lands (MHC 1984: 9). The reservation was located at what would later become

South Yarmouth and was referred to as "Indian Town" in the records (MHC 1984: 9). The Native

population decrease was a result of a 1763 epidemic that further devastated a dwindling community

and leaving a remnant population of Native people by 1775 (MHC 1984: 7). All the Native lands were

sold off in 1778. By 1765 there were only 31 Natives recorded in Indian Town with a cluster of Native-

style houses present in the area as late as 1779 (MHC 1984: 12). One Yarmouth Native, Ichabod

Paddock, was hired by Nantucket in 1690 to teach local fisherman about whaling and processing

whales (MHC 1984: 10). European settlement density increased, and as a result, five divisions of the

town of Yarmouth were created, with the East Precinct eventually becoming Dennis. The region around

the project area eventually became known for its maritime-related industries, especially shipbuilding

and coastal trading. Another focus at the northern end of town was salt making, which became very

important for many Cape towns by the 19th century. One mill may have been located at Mill Pond

during this period and one wind-powered mill is known to have existed. The second meeting house was

built in 1716 and was enlarged in 1768 (MHC 1984: 10).

Highways that had been improved during the preceding period, continued in use during the Federal

Period (1775-1830). The primary east to west corridor through the town was County Road and in 1795

a ferry service was added across Bass River. This ferry was changed to a toll bridge in 1815 (MHC

1984: 11). The maritime focus of the town intensified during this period with a town dock being built at

Gray's beach in North Yarmouth in 1811 and another dock at Hockanom Road (MHC 1984: 11). A

packet service also ran from North Yarmouth to Boston beginning in 1821 (MHC 1984: 11). By the

1790s the south shore, focused around Bass River, was the most active in town with a rope walk, fish

works, potter and five windmills evident by 1795 (MHC 1984: 13). In the northern section of town,

boat building became important along the Chase Garden River and agriculture remained an important

15


part of town's economy. In 1791 a total of 897 acres were recorded as under cultivation representing

3.1% of the land area of Yarmouth and making it the third highest on Cape Cod (MHC 1984: 13).

Captain John Sears (1744-1817) of East Dennis was a fisherman before the Revolutionary War but after

the war he helped introduce the solar evaporation technique of salt production to Cape Cod (MHC

1984: 11). Yarmouth ranked third in salt production in 1802 (MHC 1984: 13-14).

The population of Yarmouth grew rapidly during the Early Industrial Period (1830-1870) especially

between 1830-1840 and 1855-1860 with a growth of 30 persons per year (MHC 1984: 15). Along the

south shore of the town, the economy focused on coastal trading and fishing while in the north,

shipbuilding and salt making dominated the economy. The town was also the leader in the alewife

fishery. The 1830s saw a boom in the production of salt with a total of 365, 000 pounds being produced

by 1837 (MHC 1984: 16). Cod and mackerel fisheries were also very important, reaching their peak in

1845 when a total of 24 vessels and 297 hands were engaged in the industry (MHC 1984: 17). The

railroad arrived in Yarmouth in 1854 and in 1865 was extended across the town.

Yarmouth experienced a serious population decline after 1865 and by the end of the Late Industrial

Period (1870-1915), the population numbered 1,415 persons (MHC 1984: 18). The maritime industry

reached a peak in 1875 when 29% of the population were mariners and 18% were fishermen (MHC

1984: 19). At the time there were 16 schooners involved in coastal trading but after this date the

maritime focus shifted to ocean traffic with a small percentage of ships departing to and arriving from

Hong Kong, San Francisco, Liverpool and Japan among other places (MHC 1984: 20). Little new

development was seen in the town but there was some growth as a summer resort destination. The

economy of the town concentrated on coastal trading in the south, but the north was now more focused

on cranberry production and agriculture (MHC 1984: 20).

The Early Modern Period (1915-1940), in the 1920s, saw Route 6 being constructed and Route 28

being improved, both of which went through the town. The population decline ended in the 1920s when

the automobile brought a steady and predictable flow of tourists and their much desired dollars, to Cape

Cod in the summer. Yarmouth's population experienced an 80% increase between 1920 and 1940. More

manufacturing and agricultural jobs were created in the town, but the greatest development pertained to

public buildings and was oriented toward summer resorts (MHC 1984: 22). The two most lucrative

businesses soon became cranberry production and shellfishing.

D. Results of Previous Field Investigations

2011 Intensive Survey

Archaeologists excavated 226 shovel test pits, 121 on the 5 m. grid within 30 m (~98 ft.) of the extant

house and Taylor Rock, and 105 on the 10 m. grid to the east of the house (Figure 3). Archaeologists

recovered 2,305 artifacts, of which 173 (7.5%) were prehistoric and 2,132 (92.5%) were historic.

Prehistoric artifacts consisted of pottery, fire-cracked rock, a net sinker, flakes, flake fragments, shatter,

cores, unifaces, bifaces, and projectile points. Raw materials for the lithic tools were primarily limited

to those obtainable from local sources: quartz, rhyolite, quartzite, granite, schist, and sandstone. One

Levanna point and one flake appear to be formed from English flint, a material that could be acquired

16


either by trade or by salvaging ballast piles along the shore after Europeans began traveling to Cape

Cod for fishing, trading, and settling.

At the conclusion of the Phase I Survey archaeologists identified five prehistoric sites: the Knoll Site,

the Bray Farm Site, the Locus 1 Site, the Locus 2 Site, and the Locus 3 Site. The first two sites

consisted of low densities of prehistoric materials scattered across relatively wide areas. The Locus 1

site represents a concentration of lithics and fire-cracked rock, while the Locus 2 and 3 sites had higher

densities of debitage, tools and fire-cracked rock spread across wide areas. Each of these sites was

separated from each other and appears to represent individual sites rather than components of one large

site.

Five partial or complete projectile points were recovered from the eastern pastures. These consisted of

two Small Stemmed points, one Atlantic point, one Rossville point, and one possible Levanna point

fragment. The Atlantic point dates to the Transitional Archaic period (4300-3500 BP), the Small

Stemmed points date from the Late Archaic to the Early Woodland periods (4,500- 1,500 BP), the

Rossville point dates to the Early Woodland period (2,700-2,000 BP), and the Levanna point dates from

the Late Woodland Period (1,000-450 BP).

2012 Site Examination

Richard and Ruth Taylor Homesite

A total of two test trenches were excavated across an anomaly visible in aerial photographs that was

interpreted after the intensive survey to possibly represent a Cellar Hole. These test trenches measured

21.5 m north to south and 11 m east to west. Trenching across the anomaly determined that it was a

Cellar Hole dating to the 18th century. These trenches also identified several other anomalies including

seven post holes for an earlier house and a concentration of 18th to early 19th century yard scatter. Four

additional, but much shorter trenches were also excavated with one additional post hole and a possible

colonial hearth being identified. Four 1 x 1 m excavation units were excavated to the east and north of

the Cellar Hole. The excavation of these units resulted in the identification of three probable slot fence

lines and additional evidence of refuse disposal patterns. A total of 10, 788 artifacts were recovered

from Phase II Survey testing at this site.

Knoll Site

The Knoll prehistoric site was investigated concurrently with the investigations at the Richard and Ruth

Taylor Homesite. Testing resulted in the recovery of 18 prehistoric artifacts. One third of those artifacts

were recovered from secondary to tertiary fill deposits in the Cellar Hole and the remaining third were

recovered from what is believed to be an in situ deposit at the A1/ B1 interface in Trench 1 beneath the

historic North Yard Scatter deposit. Three features were encountered, two storage pits and one small

basin. The largest of the storage pits dated to the Contact to Plantation period and contained one piece

of Native pottery, one flake-like bottle glass fragment, and several fragments of a cattle radius.

Locus 1 Site

Intensive survey testing encountered a concentration of fire-cracked rock and lithic debitage in one test

pit situated between the ca. 1800 barn and the modern donkey barn. During the Phase II Site

Examination, archaeologists excavated one 1 x 1 m EU and four 50 cm STPs at 3.5-5 m-intervals from

17


the EU. Testing resulted in the recovery of 232 artifacts (28 historic, 10 fragments of charcoal, 1

fragment of calcined bone, and 193 prehistoric artifacts). This site was determined to date to the Late

Archaic period.

Based on the results of the Phase II Site Examination, archaeologists concluded that the three sites,

Richard and Ruth Taylor Homesite, the Knoll Site, and the Locus 1 Site, are spatially circumscribed,

possess considerable integrity, and are potentially eligible for listing in the National Register under

Criterion D: their potential to contribute important historical information.

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III. SITE EXAMINATION RESEARCH DESIGN

A. Introduction

The purpose of this Phase II Site Examination is to “give a preliminary definition of the size, data

contents and spatial arrangement of artifacts and features for the purpose of assessing the site's

integrity, research potential and significance and in order to make an opinion of the potential eligibility

of the site for inclusion in the National Register.” (950 CMR 70.04). The Phase II Survey research is

designed to assess a site’s integrity, define a site’s boundaries, and offer a preliminary interpretation of

a site’s historical significance with the ultimate purpose of assessing a site’s potential eligibility for

listing in the National Register of Historic Places. This report presents the results of Phase II Survey

testing at two sites discovered during Phase I Survey of the Taylor-Bray Farm: the Locus 2 and 3 Sites.

B. Soil Flotation Sampling, Recovery and Analysis

In order to recover carbonized charcoal and carbonized seeds and plant remains, archaeologists

collected soil samples from the unexcavated portions preserved for recording feature profiles of all

features. Sample sizes measured 1 liter, from which a .25 liter sample was archived for potential future

analysis. Pending processing, all samples were stored in labeled, plastic sample bags in the wet lab.

Processing procedures involved the use of agitated flotation and separation of two fractions: heavy and

light. Archaeologists then air dried processed materials and scanned the samples with a dissecting

microscope. Archaeologists recovered seeds and snail shells, wrapped each sample in aluminum foil

and placed each sample in a labeled, plastic sample bag. Where possible, archaeologists identified

faunal and floral remains by genus and species, using Kirkbride, Gunn and Dallwitz (2013), Perez and

Cordeiro (2008), and Chartier’s type collection. Archaeologists identified species habitat and cultural

function by reference to these sources and to ethnohistorical information from New England and New

York. This information informed our interpretation of Native plant and animal use as well as collection

and cultivation practices within paleoenvironments. At the conclusion of the project archaeologists will

deliver faunal and floral remains, curated soil samples, and soil sample residues to the curation facility.

C. Field Investigations

1. The Locus 2 Site

Based on the results of the Phase I Survey, archaeologists had already established that the Locus 2 Site,

possessed considerable archaeological integrity. This determination was based on the presence of intact

horizons containing Pre-Contact period artifacts. Archaeologists designed further testing of the Locus 2

Site to search for additional artifact deposits and potential features and to utilize the horizontal and

vertical distribution of recovered artifacts and features to define the site’s boundaries. In order to

evaluate the significance of the Knoll Site archaeologists employed a settlement system model to

classify the site and to consider how it could provide information about subsistence resources and

practices, trade, cultural interactions, and occupation over time (Binford 1980). To that end,

archaeologists used four categories of data (lithics, faunal and floral remains, pottery, and features) and

asked:

19


1. What type of site(s) does the Locus 2 Site represent: Residential Base Camp (RBC), Foraging

Location (FL), or Field Station (FS) (Binford 1980)?

2. What, if anything, do the faunal and floral remains from the Locus 2 Site reveal about

subsistence practices?

3. What, if anything, do the lithic materials from the Locus 2 Site suggest about Pre-Contact

period trade, territoriality, or settlement type?

4. What activities are evident at the Locus 2 Site? Does the archaeological evidence represent a

discrete or multiple occupations?

Archaeologists excavated 40 50-cm-square array test pits around intensive survey test pits that had

yielded prehistoric cultural material (Figure 4). They also excavated two 1 x 1-m EU at artifact

deposits identified during the Phase II Survey: EU 16 at T17-8-N and EU 17 at T17-8-S. All

excavations extended to sterile subsoils.

2. The Locus 3 Site

Based on the results of the Phase I Survey, archaeologists made a preliminary determination that the

Locus 3 Site possessed archaeological integrity. This preliminary determination was based on the

results of Phase I Survey sub-surface testing that revealed intact horizons containing Pre-Contact

period artifacts. Archaeologists designed further testing of the Locus I Site to search for additional

artifact deposits and potential features and to define the site’s boundaries based on the horizontal and

vertical distribution of recovered artifacts and features.

Similar to the Locus 2 Site, archaeologists employed an archaeological settlement system model to

consider how the Locus 3 Site could be classified in terms of site type, and to evaluate how it could

provide information about subsistence resources and practices, trade, cultural interactions, and

occupation over time (Binford 1980). To elucidate information about the occupants of the Locus I Site

and to offer a determination about the site’s potential historical significance, archaeologists used four

categories of data (lithics, faunal and floral remains, pottery, and features) to ask:

1. What type of site does the Locus 3 Site represent: Residential Base Camp (RBC), Foraging

Location (FL), or Field Station (FS) (Binford 1980)?

2. What, if anything, do the faunal and floral remains from the Locus 3 Site reveal about

subsistence practices?

3. What, if anything, do the lithic materials from the Locus 3 Site suggest about Pre-Contact

period trade, territoriality, or settlement type?

4. What activities are evident at the Locus3 Site? Does the archaeological evidence represent a

discrete or multiple occupations?

20


Figure 4. Site Examination testing

21


During the Phase II Survey field investigations archaeologists excavated 79 50 x 50-cm STPs in the

four cardinal directions around intensive survey test pits that had yielded prehistoric cultural material

(Figure 4). Archaeologists excavated the array STPs at a 5-m interval from the primary STP.

Archaeologists also excavated 18 1 x 1 m excavation units at artifact deposits identified during the

Phase II Survey:

EUs 1 and 11 at T22-5-W; EU 2 at T22-3-E; EU 3at T24-2-N; EU 4 at T24-2-S; EU 5 at T25-1-N; EU

6 at T25-2-E; EU 7 and 14 at T21-6-N; EU 8 at T23-6-W; EU 9 at T23-5-N; EU 10 at T21-4; EU 12 at

T24-1: EU 13 at T25-1-E: EU 15 between Units 1/ 11 and 7/14; EU 18 at T24-1: EUs 19 and 20 at

T24-2. Archaeologists excavated by 10-cm levels and excavated the unit to sterile subsoil.

D. Public Participation

Part of the TBFPA’s mission is to educate the public about fragile archaeological resources that are

unseen. Therefore, the TBFPA and the Town plan to use the results of these investigations to publicize

the rich heritage preserved in the ground and brought to light through archaeology. To that end, lay

volunteers participated in the Phase II Survey field excavation under the direction of experienced

archaeologists. Volunteers followed field testing procedures identified above while qualified

archaeologists completed all paperwork and identified and interpreted potential features and recovered

artifacts. At all times, qualified archaeologists made certain that volunteers maintained the Standards

for Field Investigation (950 CMR 70.13).

E. Laboratory Methods and Analysis

Craig Chartier cleaned, identified and cataloged all cultural material recovered during the Phase II Site

Examination. Chartier cleaned durable artifacts (glass, ceramics, and lithics) by hand-brushing under

water, and used a dry, soft-bristled brush to gently remove soil adhering to fragile samples. Chartier

placed clean artifacts on 1/4 inch hardware screen to air dry. Once clean and dry all artifacts were

placed in acid-free sample bags and stored in acid-free banker’s boxes with labels printed on acid-free

paper. Throughout these procedures Chartier carefully maintained provenience information for all

recovered samples.

Artifact analysis included identification of the class, type, manufacturing date and function of

recovered cultural materials (Noel Hume 1969, South 1977). This information contributed to our

understanding of each of the site's potential eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic

Places. A complete catalog of the archaeological assemblage appears in Appendix A of this report.

F. Artifact Curation

Artifacts collected during the Phase II Survey were placed in labeled acid-free plastic bags that were

then placed within acid-free boxes for curation at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in

Brewster, Massachusetts. One copy on acid free archival quality paper and the original excavation

forms, maps, catalog sheets and a copy of the final report accompanied the artifacts to the curation

facility. PARP retained copies of all this documentary material in our project files.

22


IV. RESULTS OF SITE EXAMINATION FIELD WORK: THE LOCUS 2 SITE

A. Array Testing

Archaeologists excavated 40 array test pits spaced at 5-m intervals in the four main cardinal directions

around intensive survey test pits that had yielded prehistoric cultural material at the Locus 2 Site

(Figure 5). Array pit designations consisted of the original intensive survey test pit designation (e.g. T-

21-5) followed by the array locational designation (N, S, E, W) for a complete designation of T-21-5-N

(etc.). Eight of the array test pits were found to be sterile. Nineteenth century historic materials

(machine-cut nails, brick, redware, window glass, mold blown bottle glass, and a button) were

recovered from 14 of the array pits (T-15-5 [E, S], T-15-9 [E, N, S], T-16-8 [N, W], T16-10-W, T-16-11

[E, N], T-17-3 [N, W], T-7-W, and T-17-8-N).

Archaeologists recovered low densities of prehistoric cultural material (2-14 pieces per square meter)

with the mean being 5, the mode being 2, and the median being 4 artifacts per square meter indicating a

low density site. Recovered artifact classes were limited to lithics (flakes, flake fragments, shatter,

projectile points, fire-cracked rock [FCR]), charcoal, and faunal remains (calcined bone).

Concentrations (n=over 11 artifacts per square meter) were identified at four test pits : T-16-10-E, T-17-

5-W, T-17-8-S, and T-17-8-N. Plotting of artifact densities identified two concentrations (Concentration

1 and Concentration 2).

No features were identified in either the array or unit excavations. No soil samples were collected for

processing.

B. Unit Excavation

Unit 16

This unit was placed at site examination test pit T-17-8-N where a lithic concentration was

encountered. The unit measured 1 x 1 m-square. The original test pit formed the SE quadrant of EU 16.

No other features were identified in this unit and the soil stratigraphy was consistent with that

encountered elsewhere on the site.

Unit 17

This unit was placed at site examination test pit T-17-8-S where a lithic concentration was encountered.

The unit measured 1 x 1 m-square. The original test pit formed the SE quadrant of EU 17. No other

features were identified in this unit and the soil stratigraphy was consistent with that encountered

elsewhere on the site.

C. Concentrations

Archaeologists identified two areas of artifact concentration at Locus 2. Concentration 1 was the largest

and was centered around the test pits that had yielded the highest artifact densities: T-16-10-E, T-17-5-

W, T-17-8-S, and T-17-8-N (Appendix B). Archaeologists recovered 78 artifacts from Concentration 1

23


Figure 5. Site Examination testing Locus 2 Site

24


including quartz (n=34), rhyolite (n=38), quartzite (n=2), hornfels (n=2) and chalcedony (n=1)

debitage, one piece of FCR, calcined bone (n=7), one quartz Wading River point, one quartz Small

Stemmed point, one quartz biface, two quartzite projectile points with rounded bases, and one rhyolite

blade preform. Concentration 1 measured 60 m north to south by 45 m east to west (Figure 6). It is

believed that this concentration represents repeated occupations of the site by small groups for short

periods of time.

Concentration 2 was centered around intensive survey test pit T-15-5. Artifacts were recovered to the

south, east and west of the original test pit (Figure 6). Only four artifacts (two pieces of FCR and two

pieces of rhyolite debitage) were recovered. This site is believed to represent a portion of a small

single, short term, occupation.

D. Artifact Analysis

Archaeologists recovered 236 artifacts (65 historic, 31 historic or prehistoric [charcoal, shell], 140

prehistoric) during the Phase II Survey of the Locus 2 Site (Appendix C).

1. Faunal Remains

Archaeologists recovered two fragments of soft shell clam and nine fragments of animal bone. The

clam may be historic or prehistoric. It was found in test pit T-15-5-S at the 20-30 cm level in the A2

horizon.

Excavators recovered nine bone fragments from across the test area. The cattle tarsals were found in

test pit T-15-5-E in the 20-30 cm A2 level. Testing recovered seven pieces of calcined bone from four

50-cm-square test pits. The majority (n=6) of the pieces were concentrated in the northwestern quarter

of Concentration 1 (T-16-10-N, T-16-11-E, T-17-7-W). The stray piece was recovered from the

southwest quarter of the same concentration (T-15-9-S). The fragments were identified as medium

mammal longbone (n=3) and deer metatarsal (lower hind leg) midsection (n=4). All were calcined

white indicating complete combustion of the organics in a fire. The deer metatarsal fragments were

found in the B1 horizon at the 30-40 cmbs level. All the other fragments came from the A1 horizon (0-

20 cmbs). The recovery of these pieces from the A1 horizon may indicate that they are historic versus

prehistoric.

2. Lithics

Fire Cracked Rock

Five pieces of granite fire-cracked rock were recovered with all except one (T-15-5-W) being found the

northern third of the Locus 2 site. These pieces were found in the portion of the site that had the highest

artifact density and where the pieces of calcined bone were recovered. The pieces ranged from 4.4 to

8.2 cm long and only two retained any evidence of cortex. Their small size and high degree of fracture

indicates that they may represent either cobbles used in stone boiling or that they were subjected to

extensive and prolonged burning.

25


Figure 6. Locus 2 and 3 Site concentrations

26


Chalcedony

Archaeologists recovered one clear, waxy-textured chalcedony flake from test pit T-16-11-N at the 0-10

cmbs level in the A1 horizon. The flake bore a 45 degree striking platform angle and was 1.2 cm long

and 1.2 cm wide. Based on the flake size and striking platform angle, this flake represents a regional

exotic lithic that probably arrived at the site either as a finished tool that was resharpened here or as a

late stage biface that was finished into a tool.

Hornfels

Archaeologists recovered one hornfels flake and one flake fragment from T-17-8-S from the 30-40 cm

level in the B1 horizon. The flake bore a 35 degree platform angle and measured 1.4 cm long by 1.9 cm

wide. The flake fragment was .8 cm wide. Like the chalcedony, the hornfels is an exotic lithic, in this

case a local exotic, that , based on the flake size and striking platform angle, arrived at the site either as

a finished tool that was resharpened here or as a late stage biface that was finished into a tool.

Quartzite

Quartzite was represented by one gray colored flake and two projectile points. All of the quartzite

artifacts came from either the southern half of Concentration 1 or from Concentration 2. Archaeologists

found the flake in test pit T-15-5-E at the 20-30 cm level in the A2 horizon. It bore a 45 degree striking

platform angle and measured 1.3 cm long and 1.3 cm wide. Based on the flake size and striking

platform angle, arrived at the site either as a finished tool that was resharpened here or as a late stage

biface that was finished into a tool.

The two quartzite projectile points were represented by the base and midsection of a purple gray

colored Rossville point from test pit T-15-7-E in the 20-30 cm B1 horizon and one tan colored possible

Lamoka point (5500-4500 B.P.) from test pit T-16-8-E (Figure 7). The Rossville point (3300 - 2700

B.P) measured 3.1 cm wide and bore a transverse (twisting) break at the midsection. The point was

manufactured from a flake and one face of it bears modification via pressure flaking only on its

working edge. This break may have occurred through the use of the point as a knife in a prying motion

to cut between the longbones of deer or it may have happened when the point was being pressure flake

resharpened in haft. The relative thinness of the blade and its manufacture from a flake contributed to

its eventual failure.

The possible Lamoka point is mostly complete, lacking only the tip, measuring 5.7 cm long, 3.1 cm

wide at the base, 2.7 cm wide at the blade and 1.2 cm thick. The tip has a straight break from an

unknown source.

Quartz

Archaeologists recovered 42 pieces of quartz from the test pit and unit excavations at the Locus 2 Site.

The recovered debitage consisted mostly of flake fragments and shatter with only two complete flakes

being present. The abundance of flake fragments is most probably a result of the relatively fragile

nature of the quartz and its tendency to easily break during reduction. The presence of shatter indicates

that roughed blanks and not bifaces were transported to the site to be reduced further as needed. The

transportation of pre-reduced cobbles to the site versus the cobbles themselves is supported by the

relative lack of cortex (present on one flake fragment and one piece of shatter) on the debitage. Shatter

27


Figure 7. Locus 2 Site points

(Left to right: T-16-8-E 50 cm; T-15-7-E 20-30 cm; T-17-8-N 20-30 cm; T-16-8-W 25-30 cm; T-17-8-S

25-30 cm)

fragments ranged in size from 1.2 to 3.5 cm long with the mean being 1.97 cm, the mode being 1.5 and

1.7 cm and the median being 1.7 cm. Shatter size indicates limited rough core reduction possibly for

the purpose of the removal of flakes for projectile point and tool production.

Archaeologists recovered two Small Stemmed Tradition projectile points from the Locus 2 Site (Figure

7). One Wading River Style point (4200 - 3500 B.P.) was recovered from test pit T-16-8-W at the 25-30

cmbs level in the B1 horizon. The point is 2.8 cm long, 1.4 cm wide, and .5 cm thick. It has been

subjected to significant in haft reduction to the point that it was too stubby to adequately serve as a

projectile point any longer and was subsequently discarded. A second point, a Squibnocket Stemmed

point (4200 - 3500 B.P.), was found in test pits T-17-8-N at the 20-30 cm level in the B1 horizon.

This point was 4.4 cm long and 1.9 cm wide. It had also been reduced in haft resulting in pronounced

pointed shoulders and a narrower blade than base. EU 16 was placed at the location where this point

was found but failed to recover any significant debitage concentration or feature evidence.

Rhyolite

Archaeologists recovered 76 pieces of rhyolite from the test pit and unit excavations at the Locus 2 Site

(Appendix C). The recovered debitage consisted mostly of flake fragments and flakes with only four

pieces of shatter being present. The abundance of flakes and flake fragments is most probably a result

of the reduction of pre-reduced bifaces at the site versus the reduction of cobbles or early stage bifaces

or cores. The presence of very little shatter indicates that bifaces and not roughed blanks were

transported to the site to be reduced further as needed. The transportation of pre-reduced bifaces to the

28


site versus cobbles is supported by the relative lack of cortex (present on one flake fragment and one

piece of shatter) on the debitage. Shatter fragments ranged in size from 1.4 to 2.6 cm long with the

mean being 1.9 cm, the mode being 1.8 cm. Shatter size indicates limited rough core reduction possibly

for the purpose of the removal of flakes for projectile point and tool production. Rhyolite colors were

limited to gray (n=42), dark gray (n=27) gray green (n=10), tan (n=5), and purple gray (n=2). Dark

gray (n=3) and gray (n=1) shatter was recovered indicating more intensive reduction of either cores or

quarry blanks.

The striking platform angles present on the flakes and flake angles (Appendix D) indicate a

predominance of later stage, shallower angles on the debitage with some earlier stage steeper angles

present as well. This indicates that most probably later stage bifaces and preforms were reduced at the

site to replenish tool kits versus the site being a location of intensive reduction.

This finding was supported by the length ranges for the complete flakes (Appendix D) where it can be

seen that the majority of the flakes were recovered were from late stage reduction.

Archaeologists recovered a purple gray lenticular shaped preform from test pit T-17-8-S at 25-30 cmbs

on the top of the B1 horizon (Figure 7). This biface was 8 cm long, 3.4 cm wide, and 1.2 cm thick. It

represents a Late Stage/ Stage 3 biface that was not finished before it was lost or discarded. the edges

of the biface have not been equalized and still retain a scalloped look to them. No use wear is evident.

It is believed that people would carry Late Stage bifaces with them to replenish their tool kits for knives

or projectile points. This biface could have easily been finished to produce an broadspear point such as

an Atlantic (3900-3600 B.P.).

29


V. RESULTS OF SITE EXAMINATION FIELD WORK: THE LOCUS 3 SITE

A. Array Testing

Archaeologists excavated 79 array test pits spaced at 5-m intervals in the four main cardinal directions

around intensive survey test pits that had yielded prehistoric cultural material at the Locus 3 Site

(Figure 8). Thirty-three of the array test pits were found to be sterile. Nineteenth century historic

materials (machine-cut nails, brick, redware, window glass, mold blown bottle glass, and a button)

were recovered from 11 of the array pits (T-20-6-E, T-21-7 [E, W], T-22-3 [E, W], T-22-5-W, T-23-2

[E, S], T-23-4-E, T-24-2-N, T-26-1-W).

Archaeologists recovered low to moderate densities of prehistoric cultural material (2-62 pieces per

square meter) with the mean being 10, the mode being 6, and the median being 2 artifacts per square

meter indicating a low density site. Recovered artifact classes were limited to lithics (flakes, flake

fragments, shatter, projectile points, ground stone tools, scrapers, choppers/ diggers, unifaces, fire-

cracked rock [FCR]), charcoal, and faunal remains (calcined bone). Concentrations (n=over 11 artifacts

per square meter) were identified at 13 test pits: T-23-7-W, T-21-6-W, T-21-7-E, T-22-2-N, T-23-2-E, T-

24-1-E, T-21-6-S, T-22-2-E, T-23-6-W, T-25-1-E, T-23-5-N,T-21-6-N, and T-22-5-W. Plotting of artifact

densities identified three concentrations (Concentrations 3, 4, and 5).

B. Unit Excavation

Units 1 and 11

Units 1 and 11 were placed around and to the north of site examination test pit T-22-5-W. Excavation

of the original test pit encountered a concentration of fire cracked rock and quartz chipping debris. Unit

1 was placed so that the original test pit formed the NE quadrant of the excavation unit. Upon reaching

the fire-cracked rock concentration in the B1 horizon at 30 cm, the unit was expanded to the north by

means of a 50 cm wide by 1 meter long trench centered along the north wall of EU 1. The purpose of

this test trench was to determine if the FCR concentration continued to the north or was isolated in EU

1. This test trench was subdivided into a 0-50 cm N and 50-100 cm north sections. When the FCR

concentration was found to continue to the north, EU 11 was placed to the east of the east wall of 50-

100 cm N section. EU 11 measured 50 cm north to south by one meter east to west. This testing

strategy successfully identified the relative extent of the FCR concentration.

Unit 2

This unit was placed at site examination test pit T-22-3-E where a possible post mold was encountered

at 36 cmbs. The unit measured 1 x 1 m-square. The original test pit formed the SE quadrant of EU 2.

No other features were identified in this unit and the soil stratigraphy was consistent with that

encountered elsewhere on the site.

Unit 3

This unit was placed at site examination test pit T-24-2-N where a possible post mold was encountered

at 30 cmbs. The unit measured 1 x 1 m-square. The original test pit formed the SW quadrant of EU 3.

The possible linear stain was found to be a natural slight soil discoloration caused tree roots. No other

30


Figure 8. Locus 3 Site testing



Unit 4

This unit was placed at site examination test pit T-24-2-S where a possible linear stain was encountered


The possible post mold was found to be a natural slight soil discoloration possibly caused by the nearby

cedar tree roots. No other features were identified in this unit and the soil stratigraphy was consistent

with that encountered elsewhere on the site.

Unit 5

This unit was placed at site examination test pit T-25-1-N where a possible post mold was encountered

at 45 cmbs. The unit measured 1 x 1 m-square. The original test pit formed the NE quadrant of EU 5.

The possible post mold was found to be a natural slight soil discoloration caused by tree roots. No other



Unit 6

This unit was placed at site examination test pit T-25-2-E where a possible post mold was encountered


31


The possible post mold was found to be a natural slight soil discoloration caused by tree roots. No

other features were identified in this unit and the soil stratigraphy was consistent with that encountered


Units 7 and 14

Units 7 and 14 were placed around and to the south of site examination test pit T-21-6-N. Excavation

of the original test pit encountered a concentration of fire cracked rock and rhyolite chipping debris.

Unit 7 was placed so that the original test pit formed the NE quadrant of the excavation unit. Upon

reaching the fire-cracked rock concentration in the B1 horizon at 30 cm, the unit was expanded to the

south by means of a 50 cm wide by 1 meter long trench adjacent to the south wall of EU 7. The

purpose of this test trench, EU 14, was to determine if the FCR concentration continued to the south or

was isolated in EU7. This testing strategy successfully identified the relative extent of the FCR

concentration.

Unit 8

This unit was placed at site examination test pit T-23-6-W where a higher concentration of quartz

chipping debris was encountered. The unit measured 1 x 1 m-square. The original test pit formed the

SE quadrant of EU 8. No features were identified in this unit and the soil stratigraphy was consistent


Unit 9

This unit was placed at site examination test pit T-23-5-N where a higher concentration of quartz

chipping debris was encountered. The unit measured 1 x 1 m-square. The original test pit formed the

SE quadrant of EU 9. No features were identified in this unit and the soil stratigraphy was consistent


Unit 10

This unit was placed at to the west of intensive survey test pit T-21-4 where a post mold was

encountered. Th

Documents

Taylor-Bray Farm Locus 2 and 3 Site Examination Report ... · Taylor-Bray Farm Locus 2 and 3 Site Examination Report September 2014 B. Prehistoric Context New England's prehistory