Field Results - Overview

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The archaeological investigation at the Brumbaugh-Kendle Grove Farmstead was conducted in four stages plus demolition monitoring. The first stage was geophysical survey designed to identify subsurface anomalies that might present targets for later archaeological testing. The second phase was the Phase IB survey, which included a systematic shovel testing program in order to identify concentrations of artifacts or soils that would warrant further exploration. The third stage was Phase II testing using trenches and test units (TUs) to further investigate locations identified by the geophysical and Phase IB surveys as having demonstrated potential for the possible presence of significant cultural deposits and features. Last, the Phase III data recovery effort was undertaken to retrieve as much information from the identified cultural deposits as possible to interpret life on the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead. Following the data recovery excavation, an archaeological monitor observed demolition activities to record any subsurface features that might be uncovered during the earth-moving portion of the undertaking. A total of 106 cultural features were encountered as a result of excavation and construction monitoring. Geophysical Survey The geophysical survey employed two geophysical techniques, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and gradiometer. Anomalies with a high potential to be of cultural (rather than natural) origin were subsequently ground-truthed via archaeological excavation. The geophysical survey led to the identification of 21 anomalies, of which 12 were recommended for ground-truth testing via excavation. These were located principally in the south and west lawns around the standing farmhouse.
Shovel testing survey (Phase I) The shovel testing survey of the study area was undertaken to identify the locations of high-density artifact clusters that might indicate features and structures. Fifty-three shovel test pits (STPs) were excavated on a 7.5-m grid. The shovel testing effort suggested that the highest potential for significant archaeological deposits was in the western and southern yards of the brick farmhouse, as well as the western section of the north lawn. These areas were locations not only of artifacts concentrations, but also of the most robust stratigraphic deposits, and were the primary targets for excavation units (Phase II testing). Secondary targets included locations that exhibited higher concentrations of cultural material than surrounding tests, or locations where STP testing showed the presence of intact natural soils, such as the area to the west of the southwest corner of the barn. ﷯ A map showing the locations of STPs excavated as part of the Phase I testing effort. The orange dots are STPs where artifacts were found, the "N" and "E" labels are grid coordinates, and the numbers in parentheses are the number of artifacts recovered Trenching and Units (Phase II) The Phase II investigations at the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead were undertaken after the geophysical and shovel test surveys were completed and included the excavation of test units (TUs) and mechanical trenches. This survey focused on testing geophysical anomalies and high-density artifact clusters as identified by the preceding surveys. A total of 48 hand-excavated TUs and 5 mechanically excavated trenches constituted the Phase II effort. Phase II TUs were placed in areas judged to have a high potential for encountering cultural features based on Phase I survey results, historical research, and map and aerial analysis. To facilitate site analysis, the TUs were clustered into Areas. Trench locations were spatially recorded with a Topcon GTS total station or in some cases via an EOS Arrow 200 RTK GPS connected to a field tablet computer running a custom-made data-collection application. The four corners of each trench, as well as features within the trench, were recorded with an accuracy of less than 1 cm in both vertical and horizontal directions. Using a custom camera rig, which auto leveled the camera via gravity, each unit was documented in planview before closing or when a feature was encountered. A “context” system was utilized to record stratigraphic information during both the Phase II and Phase III excavations. Each unique deposit or soil/sediment was assigned a context number. The Phase II survey identified a total of 17 cultural features, which included posts, builder’s trenches, pathways, foundations, floors, pipe trenches, and buried tanks. The features provided insight into the built environment that formed the landscape of the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead. The Phase II survey also helped to delineate areas that needed to be examined during the Phase III data recovery. Testing these areas prior to mechanical stripping was important to ensure that a sample of all the strata that made up the depositional history of the site was accounted for prior to the mechanical stripping. ﷯ Map showing the location of Phase II testing. The pink areas are mechanically excavated trenches and the other colored squares are hand-excavated TUs, grouped into Areas to facilitate analysis. Phase II Gallery
Data Recovery (Phase III) The Phase III data recovery for the site consisted of the mechanical removal of topsoil down to natural subsoil and the subsequent delineation of subsurface features. Excavation was accomplished via a series of large strip blocks, which were used to sample locations around features identified during earlier testing to provide a more robust picture of those features and allow for their association with other features. Strip blocks were also placed in higher probability areas where additional features were anticipated or in some instances to ascertain the extent of cultural deposits. The mechanical excavation of the strip blocks was accomplished using a backhoe equipped with a 36-in. wide flat blade bucket. Under the direction of archaeologists, the backhoe removed incremental strips of soil until natural subsoil was encountered. Once an area had been stripped, a team of archaeologists cleaned the surface using hoes and trowels to increase the contrast between the soils and enable the delineation of cultural features. Each feature was then assigned a number and was then mapped, plotted using a total station, and photographed. Once the floor of a trench had been cleaned, mapped, photographed, and plotted, the delineated features were excavated. Features were bisected so that a cross-section of the feature profile could be obtained. This cross-section profile was drawn, and then a profile photo was taken. Following the bisection, the remaining portion of the feature was excavated down to natural subsoil. Despite the fact that these strip blocks joined up, their original divisions were maintained as a means of spatial control for analytical purposes. This process of strip block excavation led to the identification of an additional 89 features, bringing the total number of features (including those found during subsequent monitoring) to 106. These additional features included cisterns, a smokehouse foundation, a dwelling foundation, a privy, a fence line, numerous stone pathways, and myriad planting holes. Closely related features were grouped together into feature complexes to facilitate interpretation. ﷯ A map showing the extent of the Phase III data recovery excavation. Each lettered strip block was mechanically excavated down to subsoil and then the trench floor was hand cleaned so that features cut into the subsoil could be identified. Phase III Gallery
Field Results - Overview
The archaeological investigation at the Brumbaugh-Kendle Grove Farmstead was conducted in four stages plus demolition monitoring. The first stage was geophysical survey designed to identify subsurface anomalies that might present targets for later archaeological testing. The second phase was the Phase IB survey, which included a systematic shovel testing program in order to identify concentrations of artifacts or soils that would warrant further exploration. The third stage was Phase II testing using trenches and test units (TUs) to further investigate locations identified by the geophysical and Phase IB surveys as having demonstrated potential for the possible presence of significant cultural deposits and features. Last, the Phase III data recovery effort was undertaken to retrieve as much information from the identified cultural deposits as possible to interpret life on the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead. Following the data recovery excavation, an archaeological monitor observed demolition activities to record any subsurface features that might be uncovered during the earth-moving portion of the undertaking. A total of 106 cultural features were encountered as a result of excavation and construction monitoring. Geophysical Survey The geophysical survey employed two geophysical techniques, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and gradiometer. Anomalies with a high potential to be of cultural (rather than natural) origin were subsequently ground-truthed via archaeological excavation. The geophysical survey led to the identification of 21 anomalies, of which 12 were recommended for ground-truth testing via excavation. These were located principally in the south and west lawns around the standing farmhouse.
Gradiometer survey of the north yard. Gradiometer survey of the north yard. These grids were used to reference the GPR and gradiometer data to their real-world position on the site. Gradiometer results in the vicinity of the farmhouse showing subsurface magnetic field strength. The white and dark red areas indicate the likely presence of a buried iron object.
Shovel testing survey (Phase I) The shovel testing survey of the study area was undertaken to identify the locations of high-density artifact clusters that might indicate features and structures. Fifty-three shovel test pits (STPs) were excavated on a 7.5-m grid. The shovel testing effort suggested that the highest potential for significant archaeological deposits was in the western and southern yards of the brick farmhouse, as well as the western section of the north lawn. These areas were locations not only of artifacts concentrations, but also of the most robust stratigraphic deposits, and were the primary targets for excavation units (Phase II testing). Secondary targets included locations that exhibited higher concentrations of cultural material than surrounding tests, or locations where STP testing showed the presence of intact natural soils, such as the area to the west of the southwest corner of the barn. ﷯ A map showing the locations of STPs excavated as part of the Phase I testing effort. The orange dots are STPs where artifacts were found, the "N" and "E" labels are grid coordinates, and the numbers in parentheses are the number of artifacts recovered Trenching and Units (Phase II) The Phase II investigations at the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead were undertaken after the geophysical and shovel test surveys were completed and included the excavation of test units (TUs) and mechanical trenches. This survey focused on testing geophysical anomalies and high-density artifact clusters as identified by the preceding surveys. A total of 48 hand-excavated TUs and 5 mechanically excavated trenches constituted the Phase II effort. Phase II TUs were placed in areas judged to have a high potential for encountering cultural features based on Phase I survey results, historical research, and map and aerial analysis. To facilitate site analysis, the TUs were clustered into Areas. Trench locations were spatially recorded with a Topcon GTS total station or in some cases via an EOS Arrow 200 RTK GPS connected to a field tablet computer running a custom-made data-collection application. The four corners of each trench, as well as features within the trench, were recorded with an accuracy of less than 1 cm in both vertical and horizontal directions. Using a custom camera rig, which auto leveled the camera via gravity, each unit was documented in planview before closing or when a feature was encountered. A “context” system was utilized to record stratigraphic information during both the Phase II and Phase III excavations. Each unique deposit or soil/sediment was assigned a context number. The Phase II survey identified a total of 17 cultural features, which included posts, builder’s trenches, pathways, foundations, floors, pipe trenches, and buried tanks. The features provided insight into the built environment that formed the landscape of the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead. The Phase II survey also helped to delineate areas that needed to be examined during the Phase III data recovery. Testing these areas prior to mechanical stripping was important to ensure that a sample of all the strata that made up the depositional history of the site was accounted for prior to the mechanical stripping. ﷯ Map showing the location of Phase II testing. The pink areas are mechanically excavated trenches and the other colored squares are hand-excavated TUs, grouped into Areas to facilitate analysis. Phase II Gallery
Map of Phase II investigations in Area 1. The farmhouse foundation is at the bottom of the map, shown in gray. A pipe (brown, Feature 13 in TUs 13 and 3 S Ext) can be seen entering the basement of the house and cutting through two different cobblestone pathways (stippled). Two pathways uncovered during the Phase II investigation in the northwest yard. The smaller cobbles at the bottom are part of Feature 74 and the larger flagstones at the top are part of Feature 101, a later pathway that cut through Feature 74. Map of Phase II investigations in Area 2, on the west side of the farmhouse. A number of features here related to a metal tank (amorphous yellow shape), but the builder's trenches along the house foundation (shown in brown) helped establish the age and phasing of the house's construction. Area 2 during excavation. The depression at the right is where the metal tank had been, and the dark soil at the bottom is the fill of the builder's trenches, which were later excavated. Map of Phase II excavations in Area 3, to the north of the farmhouse. The investigation in this area attempted to locate a midden associated with the summer kitchen/washhouse, the smokehouse, and the chickenhouse. Although an intact midden was not found, a post hole near the doorway of the smokehouse was identified, suggesting that the entrance to this structure may have once had an overhanging roof. Map of Phase II excavations in Area 4, to the south of the farmhouse. The gray shapes are portions of a stone foundation (Feature 6) later identified as the earliest house on the property. A short section of the foundation wall on the south side of the house (Feature 6) as exposed in Phase II TU 5. This unit was placed here based on the presence of an anomaly identified during the GPR survey. Map of Phase II investigations in Area 5, to the west of the shed-roof addition on the south side of the barn. The purpose of this unit was to test the nature of the deposits around the barn.
Data Recovery (Phase III) The Phase III data recovery for the site consisted of the mechanical removal of topsoil down to natural subsoil and the subsequent delineation of subsurface features. Excavation was accomplished via a series of large strip blocks, which were used to sample locations around features identified during earlier testing to provide a more robust picture of those features and allow for their association with other features. Strip blocks were also placed in higher probability areas where additional features were anticipated or in some instances to ascertain the extent of cultural deposits. The mechanical excavation of the strip blocks was accomplished using a backhoe equipped with a 36-in. wide flat blade bucket. Under the direction of archaeologists, the backhoe removed incremental strips of soil until natural subsoil was encountered. Once an area had been stripped, a team of archaeologists cleaned the surface using hoes and trowels to increase the contrast between the soils and enable the delineation of cultural features. Each feature was then assigned a number and was then mapped, plotted using a total station, and photographed. Once the floor of a trench had been cleaned, mapped, photographed, and plotted, the delineated features were excavated. Features were bisected so that a cross-section of the feature profile could be obtained. This cross-section profile was drawn, and then a profile photo was taken. Following the bisection, the remaining portion of the feature was excavated down to natural subsoil. Despite the fact that these strip blocks joined up, their original divisions were maintained as a means of spatial control for analytical purposes. This process of strip block excavation led to the identification of an additional 89 features, bringing the total number of features (including those found during subsequent monitoring) to 106. These additional features included cisterns, a smokehouse foundation, a dwelling foundation, a privy, a fence line, numerous stone pathways, and myriad planting holes. Closely related features were grouped together into feature complexes to facilitate interpretation. ﷯ A map showing the extent of the Phase III data recovery excavation. Each lettered strip block was mechanically excavated down to subsoil and then the trench floor was hand cleaned so that features cut into the subsoil could be identified. Phase III Gallery
Two AECOM field archaeologists work to expose the Feature 34 foundation in the cornfield to the west of the house. This two-chambered building was later interpreted as a smokehouse. A cobble pathway (Feature 74) in the north yard of the farmhouse during Phase III investigation. Archaeologists cut through a portion of the path, as seen in the center of the image, to explore its relationship to other features and the previous yard surface.
Field Results - Overview
The archaeological investigation at the Brumbaugh-Kendle Grove Farmstead was conducted in four stages plus demolition monitoring. The first stage was geophysical survey designed to identify subsurface anomalies that might present targets for later archaeological testing. The second phase was the Phase IB survey, which included a systematic shovel testing program in order to identify concentrations of artifacts or soils that would warrant further exploration. The third stage was Phase II testing using trenches and test units (TUs) to further investigate locations identified by the geophysical and Phase IB surveys as having demonstrated potential for the possible presence of significant cultural deposits and features. Last, the Phase III data recovery effort was undertaken to retrieve as much information from the identified cultural deposits as possible to interpret life on the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead. Following the data recovery excavation, an archaeological monitor observed demolition activities to record any subsurface features that might be uncovered during the earth-moving portion of the undertaking. A total of 106 cultural features were encountered as a result of excavation and construction monitoring. Geophysical Survey The geophysical survey employed two geophysical techniques, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and gradiometer. Anomalies with a high potential to be of cultural (rather than natural) origin were subsequently ground-truthed via archaeological excavation. The geophysical survey led to the identification of 21 anomalies, of which 12 were recommended for ground-truth testing via excavation. These were located principally in the south and west lawns around the standing farmhouse.
Gradiometer survey of the north yard. Gradiometer survey of the north yard. These grids were used to reference the GPR and gradiometer data to their real-world position on the site. Gradiometer results in the vicinity of the farmhouse showing subsurface magnetic field strength. The white and dark red areas indicate the likely presence of a buried iron object.
Shovel testing survey (Phase I) The shovel testing survey of the study area was undertaken to identify the locations of high-density artifact clusters that might indicate features and structures. Fifty-three shovel test pits (STPs) were excavated on a 7.5-m grid. The shovel testing effort suggested that the highest potential for significant archaeological deposits was in the western and southern yards of the brick farmhouse, as well as the western section of the north lawn. These areas were locations not only of artifacts concentrations, but also of the most robust stratigraphic deposits, and were the primary targets for excavation units (Phase II testing). Secondary targets included locations that exhibited higher concentrations of cultural material than surrounding tests, or locations where STP testing showed the presence of intact natural soils, such as the area to the west of the southwest corner of the barn. ﷯ A map showing the locations of STPs excavated as part of the Phase I testing effort. The orange dots are STPs where artifacts were found, the "N" and "E" labels are grid coordinates, and the numbers in parentheses are the number of artifacts recovered Trenching and Units (Phase II) The Phase II investigations at the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead were undertaken after the geophysical and shovel test surveys were completed and included the excavation of test units (TUs) and mechanical trenches. This survey focused on testing geophysical anomalies and high-density artifact clusters as identified by the preceding surveys. A total of 48 hand-excavated TUs and 5 mechanically excavated trenches constituted the Phase II effort. Phase II TUs were placed in areas judged to have a high potential for encountering cultural features based on Phase I survey results, historical research, and map and aerial analysis. To facilitate site analysis, the TUs were clustered into Areas. Trench locations were spatially recorded with a Topcon GTS total station or in some cases via an EOS Arrow 200 RTK GPS connected to a field tablet computer running a custom-made data-collection application. The four corners of each trench, as well as features within the trench, were recorded with an accuracy of less than 1 cm in both vertical and horizontal directions. Using a custom camera rig, which auto leveled the camera via gravity, each unit was documented in planview before closing or when a feature was encountered. A “context” system was utilized to record stratigraphic information during both the Phase II and Phase III excavations. Each unique deposit or soil/sediment was assigned a context number. The Phase II survey identified a total of 17 cultural features, which included posts, builder’s trenches, pathways, foundations, floors, pipe trenches, and buried tanks. The features provided insight into the built environment that formed the landscape of the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead. The Phase II survey also helped to delineate areas that needed to be examined during the Phase III data recovery. Testing these areas prior to mechanical stripping was important to ensure that a sample of all the strata that made up the depositional history of the site was accounted for prior to the mechanical stripping. ﷯ Map showing the location of Phase II testing. The pink areas are mechanically excavated trenches and the other colored squares are hand-excavated TUs, grouped into Areas to facilitate analysis. Phase II Gallery
Map of Phase II investigations in Area 1. The farmhouse foundation is at the bottom of the map, shown in gray. A pipe (brown, Feature 13 in TUs 13 and 3 S Ext) can be seen entering the basement of the house and cutting through two different cobblestone pathways (stippled). Two pathways uncovered during the Phase II investigation in the northwest yard. The smaller cobbles at the bottom are part of Feature 74 and the larger flagstones at the top are part of Feature 101, a later pathway that cut through Feature 74. Map of Phase II investigations in Area 2, on the west side of the farmhouse. A number of features here related to a metal tank (amorphous yellow shape), but the builder's trenches along the house foundation (shown in brown) helped establish the age and phasing of the house's construction. Area 2 during excavation. The depression at the right is where the metal tank had been, and the dark soil at the bottom is the fill of the builder's trenches, which were later excavated. Map of Phase II excavations in Area 3, to the north of the farmhouse. The investigation in this area attempted to locate a midden associated with the summer kitchen/washhouse, the smokehouse, and the chickenhouse. Although an intact midden was not found, a post hole near the doorway of the smokehouse was identified, suggesting that the entrance to this structure may have once had an overhanging roof. Map of Phase II excavations in Area 4, to the south of the farmhouse. The gray shapes are portions of a stone foundation (Feature 6) later identified as the earliest house on the property. A short section of the foundation wall on the south side of the house (Feature 6) as exposed in Phase II TU 5. This unit was placed here based on the presence of an anomaly identified during the GPR survey. Map of Phase II investigations in Area 5, to the west of the shed-roof addition on the south side of the barn. The purpose of this unit was to test the nature of the deposits around the barn.
Data Recovery (Phase III) The Phase III data recovery for the site consisted of the mechanical removal of topsoil down to natural subsoil and the subsequent delineation of subsurface features. Excavation was accomplished via a series of large strip blocks, which were used to sample locations around features identified during earlier testing to provide a more robust picture of those features and allow for their association with other features. Strip blocks were also placed in higher probability areas where additional features were anticipated or in some instances to ascertain the extent of cultural deposits. The mechanical excavation of the strip blocks was accomplished using a backhoe equipped with a 36-in. wide flat blade bucket. Under the direction of archaeologists, the backhoe removed incremental strips of soil until natural subsoil was encountered. Once an area had been stripped, a team of archaeologists cleaned the surface using hoes and trowels to increase the contrast between the soils and enable the delineation of cultural features. Each feature was then assigned a number and was then mapped, plotted using a total station, and photographed. Once the floor of a trench had been cleaned, mapped, photographed, and plotted, the delineated features were excavated. Features were bisected so that a cross-section of the feature profile could be obtained. This cross-section profile was drawn, and then a profile photo was taken. Following the bisection, the remaining portion of the feature was excavated down to natural subsoil. Despite the fact that these strip blocks joined up, their original divisions were maintained as a means of spatial control for analytical purposes. This process of strip block excavation led to the identification of an additional 89 features, bringing the total number of features (including those found during subsequent monitoring) to 106. These additional features included cisterns, a smokehouse foundation, a dwelling foundation, a privy, a fence line, numerous stone pathways, and myriad planting holes. Closely related features were grouped together into feature complexes to facilitate interpretation. ﷯ A map showing the extent of the Phase III data recovery excavation. Each lettered strip block was mechanically excavated down to subsoil and then the trench floor was hand cleaned so that features cut into the subsoil could be identified. Phase III Gallery
Two AECOM field archaeologists work to expose the Feature 34 foundation in the cornfield to the west of the house. This two-chambered building was later interpreted as a smokehouse. A cobble pathway (Feature 74) in the north yard of the farmhouse during Phase III investigation. Archaeologists cut through a portion of the path, as seen in the center of the image, to explore its relationship to other features and the previous yard surface.
Field Results - Overview
The archaeological investigation at the Brumbaugh-Kendle Grove Farmstead was conducted in four stages plus demolition monitoring. The first stage was geophysical survey designed to identify subsurface anomalies that might present targets for later archaeological testing. The second phase was the Phase IB survey, which included a systematic shovel testing program in order to identify concentrations of artifacts or soils that would warrant further exploration. The third stage was Phase II testing using trenches and test units (TUs) to further investigate locations identified by the geophysical and Phase IB surveys as having demonstrated potential for the possible presence of significant cultural deposits and features. Last, the Phase III data recovery effort was undertaken to retrieve as much information from the identified cultural deposits as possible to interpret life on the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead. Following the data recovery excavation, an archaeological monitor observed demolition activities to record any subsurface features that might be uncovered during the earth-moving portion of the undertaking. A total of 106 cultural features were encountered as a result of excavation and construction monitoring. Geophysical Survey The geophysical survey employed two geophysical techniques, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and gradiometer. Anomalies with a high potential to be of cultural (rather than natural) origin were subsequently ground-truthed via archaeological excavation. The geophysical survey led to the identification of 21 anomalies, of which 12 were recommended for ground-truth testing via excavation. These were located principally in the south and west lawns around the standing farmhouse.
Gradiometer survey of the north yard. Gradiometer survey of the north yard. These grids were used to reference the GPR and gradiometer data to their real-world position on the site. Gradiometer results in the vicinity of the farmhouse showing subsurface magnetic field strength. The white and dark red areas indicate the likely presence of a buried iron object.
Shovel testing survey (Phase I) The shovel testing survey of the study area was undertaken to identify the locations of high-density artifact clusters that might indicate features and structures. Fifty-three shovel test pits (STPs) were excavated on a 7.5-m grid. The shovel testing effort suggested that the highest potential for significant archaeological deposits was in the western and southern yards of the brick farmhouse, as well as the western section of the north lawn. These areas were locations not only of artifacts concentrations, but also of the most robust stratigraphic deposits, and were the primary targets for excavation units (Phase II testing). Secondary targets included locations that exhibited higher concentrations of cultural material than surrounding tests, or locations where STP testing showed the presence of intact natural soils, such as the area to the west of the southwest corner of the barn. ﷯ A map showing the locations of STPs excavated as part of the Phase I testing effort. The orange dots are STPs where artifacts were found, the "N" and "E" labels are grid coordinates, and the numbers in parentheses are the number of artifacts recovered Trenching and Units (Phase II) The Phase II investigations at the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead were undertaken after the geophysical and shovel test surveys were completed and included the excavation of test units (TUs) and mechanical trenches. This survey focused on testing geophysical anomalies and high-density artifact clusters as identified by the preceding surveys. A total of 48 hand-excavated TUs and 5 mechanically excavated trenches constituted the Phase II effort. Phase II TUs were placed in areas judged to have a high potential for encountering cultural features based on Phase I survey results, historical research, and map and aerial analysis. To facilitate site analysis, the TUs were clustered into Areas. Trench locations were spatially recorded with a Topcon GTS total station or in some cases via an EOS Arrow 200 RTK GPS connected to a field tablet computer running a custom-made data-collection application. The four corners of each trench, as well as features within the trench, were recorded with an accuracy of less than 1 cm in both vertical and horizontal directions. Using a custom camera rig, which auto leveled the camera via gravity, each unit was documented in planview before closing or when a feature was encountered. A “context” system was utilized to record stratigraphic information during both the Phase II and Phase III excavations. Each unique deposit or soil/sediment was assigned a context number. The Phase II survey identified a total of 17 cultural features, which included posts, builder’s trenches, pathways, foundations, floors, pipe trenches, and buried tanks. The features provided insight into the built environment that formed the landscape of the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead. The Phase II survey also helped to delineate areas that needed to be examined during the Phase III data recovery. Testing these areas prior to mechanical stripping was important to ensure that a sample of all the strata that made up the depositional history of the site was accounted for prior to the mechanical stripping. ﷯ Map showing the location of Phase II testing. The pink areas are mechanically excavated trenches and the other colored squares are hand-excavated TUs, grouped into Areas to facilitate analysis. Phase II Gallery
Map of Phase II investigations in Area 1. The farmhouse foundation is at the bottom of the map, shown in gray. A pipe (brown, Feature 13 in TUs 13 and 3 S Ext) can be seen entering the basement of the house and cutting through two different cobblestone pathways (stippled). Two pathways uncovered during the Phase II investigation in the northwest yard. The smaller cobbles at the bottom are part of Feature 74 and the larger flagstones at the top are part of Feature 101, a later pathway that cut through Feature 74. Map of Phase II investigations in Area 2, on the west side of the farmhouse. A number of features here related to a metal tank (amorphous yellow shape), but the builder's trenches along the house foundation (shown in brown) helped establish the age and phasing of the house's construction. Area 2 during excavation. The depression at the right is where the metal tank had been, and the dark soil at the bottom is the fill of the builder's trenches, which were later excavated. Map of Phase II excavations in Area 3, to the north of the farmhouse. The investigation in this area attempted to locate a midden associated with the summer kitchen/washhouse, the smokehouse, and the chickenhouse. Although an intact midden was not found, a post hole near the doorway of the smokehouse was identified, suggesting that the entrance to this structure may have once had an overhanging roof. Map of Phase II excavations in Area 4, to the south of the farmhouse. The gray shapes are portions of a stone foundation (Feature 6) later identified as the earliest house on the property. A short section of the foundation wall on the south side of the house (Feature 6) as exposed in Phase II TU 5. This unit was placed here based on the presence of an anomaly identified during the GPR survey. Map of Phase II investigations in Area 5, to the west of the shed-roof addition on the south side of the barn. The purpose of this unit was to test the nature of the deposits around the barn.
Data Recovery (Phase III) The Phase III data recovery for the site consisted of the mechanical removal of topsoil down to natural subsoil and the subsequent delineation of subsurface features. Excavation was accomplished via a series of large strip blocks, which were used to sample locations around features identified during earlier testing to provide a more robust picture of those features and allow for their association with other features. Strip blocks were also placed in higher probability areas where additional features were anticipated or in some instances to ascertain the extent of cultural deposits. The mechanical excavation of the strip blocks was accomplished using a backhoe equipped with a 36-in. wide flat blade bucket. Under the direction of archaeologists, the backhoe removed incremental strips of soil until natural subsoil was encountered. Once an area had been stripped, a team of archaeologists cleaned the surface using hoes and trowels to increase the contrast between the soils and enable the delineation of cultural features. Each feature was then assigned a number and was then mapped, plotted using a total station, and photographed. Once the floor of a trench had been cleaned, mapped, photographed, and plotted, the delineated features were excavated. Features were bisected so that a cross-section of the feature profile could be obtained. This cross-section profile was drawn, and then a profile photo was taken. Following the bisection, the remaining portion of the feature was excavated down to natural subsoil. Despite the fact that these strip blocks joined up, their original divisions were maintained as a means of spatial control for analytical purposes. This process of strip block excavation led to the identification of an additional 89 features, bringing the total number of features (including those found during subsequent monitoring) to 106. These additional features included cisterns, a smokehouse foundation, a dwelling foundation, a privy, a fence line, numerous stone pathways, and myriad planting holes. Closely related features were grouped together into feature complexes to facilitate interpretation. ﷯ A map showing the extent of the Phase III data recovery excavation. Each lettered strip block was mechanically excavated down to subsoil and then the trench floor was hand cleaned so that features cut into the subsoil could be identified. Phase III Gallery
Two AECOM field archaeologists work to expose the Feature 34 foundation in the cornfield to the west of the house. This two-chambered building was later interpreted as a smokehouse. A cobble pathway (Feature 74) in the north yard of the farmhouse during Phase III investigation. Archaeologists cut through a portion of the path, as seen in the center of the image, to explore its relationship to other features and the previous yard surface.
Field Results - Overview
The archaeological investigation at the Brumbaugh-Kendle Grove Farmstead was conducted in four stages plus demolition monitoring. The first stage was geophysical survey designed to identify subsurface anomalies that might present targets for later archaeological testing. The second phase was the Phase IB survey, which included a systematic shovel testing program in order to identify concentrations of artifacts or soils that would warrant further exploration. The third stage was Phase II testing using trenches and test units (TUs) to further investigate locations identified by the geophysical and Phase IB surveys as having demonstrated potential for the possible presence of significant cultural deposits and features. Last, the Phase III data recovery effort was undertaken to retrieve as much information from the identified cultural deposits as possible to interpret life on the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead. Following the data recovery excavation, an archaeological monitor observed demolition activities to record any subsurface features that might be uncovered during the earth-moving portion of the undertaking. A total of 106 cultural features were encountered as a result of excavation and construction monitoring. Geophysical Survey The geophysical survey employed two geophysical techniques, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and gradiometer. Anomalies with a high potential to be of cultural (rather than natural) origin were subsequently ground-truthed via archaeological excavation. The geophysical survey led to the identification of 21 anomalies, of which 12 were recommended for ground-truth testing via excavation. These were located principally in the south and west lawns around the standing farmhouse.
Gradiometer survey of the north yard. Gradiometer survey of the north yard. These grids were used to reference the GPR and gradiometer data to their real-world position on the site. Gradiometer results in the vicinity of the farmhouse showing subsurface magnetic field strength. The white and dark red areas indicate the likely presence of a buried iron object.
Shovel testing survey (Phase I) The shovel testing survey of the study area was undertaken to identify the locations of high-density artifact clusters that might indicate features and structures. Fifty-three shovel test pits (STPs) were excavated on a 7.5-m grid. The shovel testing effort suggested that the highest potential for significant archaeological deposits was in the western and southern yards of the brick farmhouse, as well as the western section of the north lawn. These areas were locations not only of artifacts concentrations, but also of the most robust stratigraphic deposits, and were the primary targets for excavation units (Phase II testing). Secondary targets included locations that exhibited higher concentrations of cultural material than surrounding tests, or locations where STP testing showed the presence of intact natural soils, such as the area to the west of the southwest corner of the barn. ﷯ A map showing the locations of STPs excavated as part of the Phase I testing effort. The orange dots are STPs where artifacts were found, the "N" and "E" labels are grid coordinates, and the numbers in parentheses are the number of artifacts recovered Trenching and Units (Phase II) The Phase II investigations at the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead were undertaken after the geophysical and shovel test surveys were completed and included the excavation of test units (TUs) and mechanical trenches. This survey focused on testing geophysical anomalies and high-density artifact clusters as identified by the preceding surveys. A total of 48 hand-excavated TUs and 5 mechanically excavated trenches constituted the Phase II effort. Phase II TUs were placed in areas judged to have a high potential for encountering cultural features based on Phase I survey results, historical research, and map and aerial analysis. To facilitate site analysis, the TUs were clustered into Areas. Trench locations were spatially recorded with a Topcon GTS total station or in some cases via an EOS Arrow 200 RTK GPS connected to a field tablet computer running a custom-made data-collection application. The four corners of each trench, as well as features within the trench, were recorded with an accuracy of less than 1 cm in both vertical and horizontal directions. Using a custom camera rig, which auto leveled the camera via gravity, each unit was documented in planview before closing or when a feature was encountered. A “context” system was utilized to record stratigraphic information during both the Phase II and Phase III excavations. Each unique deposit or soil/sediment was assigned a context number. The Phase II survey identified a total of 17 cultural features, which included posts, builder’s trenches, pathways, foundations, floors, pipe trenches, and buried tanks. The features provided insight into the built environment that formed the landscape of the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead. The Phase II survey also helped to delineate areas that needed to be examined during the Phase III data recovery. Testing these areas prior to mechanical stripping was important to ensure that a sample of all the strata that made up the depositional history of the site was accounted for prior to the mechanical stripping. ﷯ Map showing the location of Phase II testing. The pink areas are mechanically excavated trenches and the other colored squares are hand-excavated TUs, grouped into Areas to facilitate analysis. Phase II Gallery
Map of Phase II investigations in Area 1. The farmhouse foundation is at the bottom of the map, shown in gray. A pipe (brown, Feature 13 in TUs 13 and 3 S Ext) can be seen entering the basement of the house and cutting through two different cobblestone pathways (stippled). Two pathways uncovered during the Phase II investigation in the northwest yard. The smaller cobbles at the bottom are part of Feature 74 and the larger flagstones at the top are part of Feature 101, a later pathway that cut through Feature 74. Map of Phase II investigations in Area 2, on the west side of the farmhouse. A number of features here related to a metal tank (amorphous yellow shape), but the builder's trenches along the house foundation (shown in brown) helped establish the age and phasing of the house's construction. Area 2 during excavation. The depression at the right is where the metal tank had been, and the dark soil at the bottom is the fill of the builder's trenches, which were later excavated. Map of Phase II excavations in Area 3, to the north of the farmhouse. The investigation in this area attempted to locate a midden associated with the summer kitchen/washhouse, the smokehouse, and the chickenhouse. Although an intact midden was not found, a post hole near the doorway of the smokehouse was identified, suggesting that the entrance to this structure may have once had an overhanging roof. Map of Phase II excavations in Area 4, to the south of the farmhouse. The gray shapes are portions of a stone foundation (Feature 6) later identified as the earliest house on the property. A short section of the foundation wall on the south side of the house (Feature 6) as exposed in Phase II TU 5. This unit was placed here based on the presence of an anomaly identified during the GPR survey. Map of Phase II investigations in Area 5, to the west of the shed-roof addition on the south side of the barn. The purpose of this unit was to test the nature of the deposits around the barn.
Data Recovery (Phase III) The Phase III data recovery for the site consisted of the mechanical removal of topsoil down to natural subsoil and the subsequent delineation of subsurface features. Excavation was accomplished via a series of large strip blocks, which were used to sample locations around features identified during earlier testing to provide a more robust picture of those features and allow for their association with other features. Strip blocks were also placed in higher probability areas where additional features were anticipated or in some instances to ascertain the extent of cultural deposits. The mechanical excavation of the strip blocks was accomplished using a backhoe equipped with a 36-in. wide flat blade bucket. Under the direction of archaeologists, the backhoe removed incremental strips of soil until natural subsoil was encountered. Once an area had been stripped, a team of archaeologists cleaned the surface using hoes and trowels to increase the contrast between the soils and enable the delineation of cultural features. Each feature was then assigned a number and was then mapped, plotted using a total station, and photographed. Once the floor of a trench had been cleaned, mapped, photographed, and plotted, the delineated features were excavated. Features were bisected so that a cross-section of the feature profile could be obtained. This cross-section profile was drawn, and then a profile photo was taken. Following the bisection, the remaining portion of the feature was excavated down to natural subsoil. Despite the fact that these strip blocks joined up, their original divisions were maintained as a means of spatial control for analytical purposes. This process of strip block excavation led to the identification of an additional 89 features, bringing the total number of features (including those found during subsequent monitoring) to 106. These additional features included cisterns, a smokehouse foundation, a dwelling foundation, a privy, a fence line, numerous stone pathways, and myriad planting holes. Closely related features were grouped together into feature complexes to facilitate interpretation. ﷯ A map showing the extent of the Phase III data recovery excavation. Each lettered strip block was mechanically excavated down to subsoil and then the trench floor was hand cleaned so that features cut into the subsoil could be identified. Phase III Gallery
Two AECOM field archaeologists work to expose the Feature 34 foundation in the cornfield to the west of the house. This two-chambered building was later interpreted as a smokehouse. A cobble pathway (Feature 74) in the north yard of the farmhouse during Phase III investigation. Archaeologists cut through a portion of the path, as seen in the center of the image, to explore its relationship to other features and the previous yard surface.
Field Results - Overview
The archaeological investigation at the Brumbaugh-Kendle Grove Farmstead was conducted in four stages plus demolition monitoring. The first stage was geophysical survey designed to identify subsurface anomalies that might present targets for later archaeological testing. The second phase was the Phase IB survey, which included a systematic shovel testing program in order to identify concentrations of artifacts or soils that would warrant further exploration. The third stage was Phase II testing using trenches and test units (TUs) to further investigate locations identified by the geophysical and Phase IB surveys as having demonstrated potential for the possible presence of significant cultural deposits and features. Last, the Phase III data recovery effort was undertaken to retrieve as much information from the identified cultural deposits as possible to interpret life on the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead. Following the data recovery excavation, an archaeological monitor observed demolition activities to record any subsurface features that might be uncovered during the earth-moving portion of the undertaking. A total of 106 cultural features were encountered as a result of excavation and construction monitoring. Geophysical Survey The geophysical survey employed two geophysical techniques, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and gradiometer. Anomalies with a high potential to be of cultural (rather than natural) origin were subsequently ground-truthed via archaeological excavation. The geophysical survey led to the identification of 21 anomalies, of which 12 were recommended for ground-truth testing via excavation. These were located principally in the south and west lawns around the standing farmhouse.
Gradiometer survey of the north yard. Gradiometer survey of the north yard. These grids were used to reference the GPR and gradiometer data to their real-world position on the site. Gradiometer results in the vicinity of the farmhouse showing subsurface magnetic field strength. The white and dark red areas indicate the likely presence of a buried iron object.
Shovel testing survey (Phase I) The shovel testing survey of the study area was undertaken to identify the locations of high-density artifact clusters that might indicate features and structures. Fifty-three shovel test pits (STPs) were excavated on a 7.5-m grid. The shovel testing effort suggested that the highest potential for significant archaeological deposits was in the western and southern yards of the brick farmhouse, as well as the western section of the north lawn. These areas were locations not only of artifacts concentrations, but also of the most robust stratigraphic deposits, and were the primary targets for excavation units (Phase II testing). Secondary targets included locations that exhibited higher concentrations of cultural material than surrounding tests, or locations where STP testing showed the presence of intact natural soils, such as the area to the west of the southwest corner of the barn. ﷯ A map showing the locations of STPs excavated as part of the Phase I testing effort. The orange dots are STPs where artifacts were found, the "N" and "E" labels are grid coordinates, and the numbers in parentheses are the number of artifacts recovered Trenching and Units (Phase II) The Phase II investigations at the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead were undertaken after the geophysical and shovel test surveys were completed and included the excavation of test units (TUs) and mechanical trenches. This survey focused on testing geophysical anomalies and high-density artifact clusters as identified by the preceding surveys. A total of 48 hand-excavated TUs and 5 mechanically excavated trenches constituted the Phase II effort. Phase II TUs were placed in areas judged to have a high potential for encountering cultural features based on Phase I survey results, historical research, and map and aerial analysis. To facilitate site analysis, the TUs were clustered into Areas. Trench locations were spatially recorded with a Topcon GTS total station or in some cases via an EOS Arrow 200 RTK GPS connected to a field tablet computer running a custom-made data-collection application. The four corners of each trench, as well as features within the trench, were recorded with an accuracy of less than 1 cm in both vertical and horizontal directions. Using a custom camera rig, which auto leveled the camera via gravity, each unit was documented in planview before closing or when a feature was encountered. A “context” system was utilized to record stratigraphic information during both the Phase II and Phase III excavations. Each unique deposit or soil/sediment was assigned a context number. The Phase II survey identified a total of 17 cultural features, which included posts, builder’s trenches, pathways, foundations, floors, pipe trenches, and buried tanks. The features provided insight into the built environment that formed the landscape of the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead. The Phase II survey also helped to delineate areas that needed to be examined during the Phase III data recovery. Testing these areas prior to mechanical stripping was important to ensure that a sample of all the strata that made up the depositional history of the site was accounted for prior to the mechanical stripping. ﷯ Map showing the location of Phase II testing. The pink areas are mechanically excavated trenches and the other colored squares are hand-excavated TUs, grouped into Areas to facilitate analysis. Phase II Gallery
Map of Phase II investigations in Area 1. The farmhouse foundation is at the bottom of the map, shown in gray. A pipe (brown, Feature 13 in TUs 13 and 3 S Ext) can be seen entering the basement of the house and cutting through two different cobblestone pathways (stippled). Two pathways uncovered during the Phase II investigation in the northwest yard. The smaller cobbles at the bottom are part of Feature 74 and the larger flagstones at the top are part of Feature 101, a later pathway that cut through Feature 74. Map of Phase II investigations in Area 2, on the west side of the farmhouse. A number of features here related to a metal tank (amorphous yellow shape), but the builder's trenches along the house foundation (shown in brown) helped establish the age and phasing of the house's construction. Area 2 during excavation. The depression at the right is where the metal tank had been, and the dark soil at the bottom is the fill of the builder's trenches, which were later excavated. Map of Phase II excavations in Area 3, to the north of the farmhouse. The investigation in this area attempted to locate a midden associated with the summer kitchen/washhouse, the smokehouse, and the chickenhouse. Although an intact midden was not found, a post hole near the doorway of the smokehouse was identified, suggesting that the entrance to this structure may have once had an overhanging roof. Map of Phase II excavations in Area 4, to the south of the farmhouse. The gray shapes are portions of a stone foundation (Feature 6) later identified as the earliest house on the property. A short section of the foundation wall on the south side of the house (Feature 6) as exposed in Phase II TU 5. This unit was placed here based on the presence of an anomaly identified during the GPR survey. Map of Phase II investigations in Area 5, to the west of the shed-roof addition on the south side of the barn. The purpose of this unit was to test the nature of the deposits around the barn.
Data Recovery (Phase III) The Phase III data recovery for the site consisted of the mechanical removal of topsoil down to natural subsoil and the subsequent delineation of subsurface features. Excavation was accomplished via a series of large strip blocks, which were used to sample locations around features identified during earlier testing to provide a more robust picture of those features and allow for their association with other features. Strip blocks were also placed in higher probability areas where additional features were anticipated or in some instances to ascertain the extent of cultural deposits. The mechanical excavation of the strip blocks was accomplished using a backhoe equipped with a 36-in. wide flat blade bucket. Under the direction of archaeologists, the backhoe removed incremental strips of soil until natural subsoil was encountered. Once an area had been stripped, a team of archaeologists cleaned the surface using hoes and trowels to increase the contrast between the soils and enable the delineation of cultural features. Each feature was then assigned a number and was then mapped, plotted using a total station, and photographed. Once the floor of a trench had been cleaned, mapped, photographed, and plotted, the delineated features were excavated. Features were bisected so that a cross-section of the feature profile could be obtained. This cross-section profile was drawn, and then a profile photo was taken. Following the bisection, the remaining portion of the feature was excavated down to natural subsoil. Despite the fact that these strip blocks joined up, their original divisions were maintained as a means of spatial control for analytical purposes. This process of strip block excavation led to the identification of an additional 89 features, bringing the total number of features (including those found during subsequent monitoring) to 106. These additional features included cisterns, a smokehouse foundation, a dwelling foundation, a privy, a fence line, numerous stone pathways, and myriad planting holes. Closely related features were grouped together into feature complexes to facilitate interpretation. ﷯ A map showing the extent of the Phase III data recovery excavation. Each lettered strip block was mechanically excavated down to subsoil and then the trench floor was hand cleaned so that features cut into the subsoil could be identified. Phase III Gallery
Two AECOM field archaeologists work to expose the Feature 34 foundation in the cornfield to the west of the house. This two-chambered building was later interpreted as a smokehouse. A cobble pathway (Feature 74) in the north yard of the farmhouse during Phase III investigation. Archaeologists cut through a portion of the path, as seen in the center of the image, to explore its relationship to other features and the previous yard surface.