Hannah Sisk

Week 1 - 9/12/2011

Today was the first meeting of Archaeology of College Hill! We first met in Rhode Island Hall, where I was formally introduced to Prof. Jessica Nowlin, TA Müge, and my nine classmates with whom I shall spend the next weeks digging, discussing, and analyzing remains to be uncovered from the front lawn of the John Brown House. The first hour of class was spent explaining the nature of the class – what we were to expect and what was expected of us. Jessica then provided us with a brief but effective overview of the history of the John Brown House (particularly its many owners over the years since the initial home had been constructed in the 18^thcentury). With a little history under our belts, we began discussing the results and strategies of past ARCH 1900 classes. Jessica indentified, via an aerial image of the property, where previous classes had dug their units. She suggested some areas for us to dig, though the final decision was to come from us as a class.

Armed with an introductory knowledge of the history as well as past excavations, we retrieved our digging tools and set out for the John Brown House. Once there, Jessica gave us a brief tour of the property, and we then broke into smaller groups for the excavations of individual units. This semester, I will be digging in Unit 11, a unit we reopened from previous years of excavation. The Unit, located on the western part of the property, close to the center/edge of the fence running along Benefit Street, is of particular interest because of the discovery of a wall there, thought to have been a structural piece of the (since-demolished) Hale-Ives House. Since the unit had already been excavated in part in past years, today we mainly focused on shoveling out the dirt that had been backfilled at the end of the season last fall. Minus a slightly confusing start (we realized, somewhat belatedly, that the area where we had initially started digging was actually the incorrect location from previous years!), we finally found the correct place to dig and shoveled far enough down that we reached the beginnings of the tarp, laid by last years’ archaeologists to protect the un-excavated levels underneath. Today’s work was most fulfilling, and I’m quite excited, once we completely clear the unit of backfill dirt, to actually begin our own excavation work on the unit and the wall!

Week 2 - 9/19, 9/20/11

On Monday, our class met directly at the John Nicholas Brown House to take the official house tour of the museum. There, we were greeted by the Exhibition and Visitor Services manager, Dalila Goulart. She told us she was eager for our digging season to really begin and to see what types of research projects we would eventually pursue at the end of the excavation season. She offered her services, as well as the collection and archives of the Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS) for when we started working on our final projects towards the end of the semester. We then watched an introductory video on the Brown family and the house itself before beginning the tour.

Dalila was very knowledgeable, explaining to us not only the history of the family and the house, but also of the RIHS’ mission and accomplishments in restoring and preserving the house/property. Throughout the tour of the home, I was most struck by the wallpaper and other decorative elements (particularly the Oriental furniture and aesthetic pieces), indicative both of John Brown's wealth and his international connections and aspirations. Equally impressive was the butler’s pantry, a feature added by Perry in the early 20^thcentury, with the early GE appliances and the multiple examples of dinnerware sets donated to the RIHS over the years. Another Perry addition, the luxurious early 20^th century French-inspired bathroom was absolutely stunning. Between the sunken bath tub and ribcage shower, the W.C. was extremely modern for the Gilded Age (a time when many did not even have indoor plumbing!). Perhaps most striking, though, was the juxtaposition between the restored 18^thcentury rooms and the 20^th century Perry additions. These two time periods often physically abut each other in the layout of the partially renovated house, providing a visual, tangible reminder of the complex historyof the house, a building that has been inhabited for over two hundred years.Though the majority of the house has been restored to the 18^thcentury style that John Brown would have known, the home’s history continues way past that, up into the 20^th century. The realization that this property was home to many different individuals, each with unique living habits, possessions, and life stories, should prove most useful when evaluating and categorizing excavation remains from different strata.

Finally, at the end of the tour, we met with Morgan Grefe, executive director of the RIHS. She answered any remaining questions that we had and chatted with us about her work at the John Brown House and in American history. She too offered us research resources for our upcoming final projects. We ultimately did not have time to dig on Monday, though I think that this class period in the house was time well spent. This upcoming Monday, when we continue our initial excavation processes, we will be much better informed of the contexts and history into which we are literally going to be digging. Furthermore, in our first section on Tuesday morning, we spent some time discussing (from the readings) excavation practicalities, strategies, and theory. Between the discussion and the tour, I feel most prepared to begin serious excavations this coming Monday.

Week 3 - 9/26/11

Today we finally (literally) got our hands dirty! After the supplies had been gathered from the Carriage House, we met out on the JBH lawn and were briefed by Jessica. My team (Susana, Allison, and I) was going to continue emptying the backfill from our unit so we could reach the levels left by last year’s excavation group. Meanwhile, the land along Charlesfield Street was going to undergo further Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR); it was interesting to watch the process, even if it was from a distance. Also, Jessica and Sandra began to work on mapping out a total station to determine the placement of the intended third unit (they are looking for the remains of a late 19^thcentury fountain). However, the results of the total station showed that the fountain remains (?) are partially covered by a giant tree, so their excavation plans were halted for the day and it remains to be seen where a third, new trench shall be opened.

The group that intended to open that third trench, Sandra, Brian, and Ian, instead joined our team and helped up shovel the enormous amounts of dirt out of Unit 11. We worked steadily on clearing the initial 2x2m unit from two years ago, as well as the adjoining 1x1m space opened by last year’s team. Our efforts were effective...perhaps too effective – in the two hours of shoveling backfill, we managed not only to uncover the tarp-covered wall remains from last year, but to also cut too far into the corner that connected the two parts of the unit (the 2x2m and the 1x1m). Upon realizing our mistake and then asking Müge and Jessica for assistance, it was mutually decided that we should further open the unit into where we had dug too far. Our entire unit now, therefore, is 2x3m large. With the help of Müge, a compass, nails, and measuring tape, we fixed the borders of the unit. Müge further helped us by photographing the end result of today’s work.

The unit is now ready for excavation. Next week we shall begin excavating the new 1x1m square that we added to the unit just today, as well as continue the processes started lower in the unit by last years’ teams. Having the additional people today helped a great deal, especially with the shoveling and heavy lifting of backfill. Hopefully they will be back next week to help us tackle our huge (! and promising…) unit that we cleared today.

Week 4 – 10/3/11

Today was a most productive day. A few of us arrived early to get an additional hour of work done since next Monday we won’t meet for class because of fall weekend. Upon arriving, we were first met with a significant amount of water weighing down the tarp that covered our unit (Unit 11)– apparently it had rained a lot in the past week. We scooped out the water as best we could and eventually moved the entire tarp with only minimal spillage into the excavated space below. Ah, the wonders of New England archaeology… In the extra hour before class, Allison and I also assisted Valerie with removing the top soil from Unit 14.

When the rest of the group arrived, Jessica showed us the GPR results from the work done the previous week. The results showed an anomaly over near Unit 14 that spread even further and curved around (?). Because of the presence and potentially definite nature of the anomaly, it was decided that the third unit be opened directly on top of a portion of it. As a result, Unit 11 has lost its additional three volunteers from last week…

Then we finally got down to excavation work. We were to open the ~1x1 m square in the north-west corner of our unit. Jessica taught us how to use the Total Station, and with her help, we mapped out the points and measurements of our entire unit and, especially, the NW corner. Once everything was measured, we began digging. First we removed the top soil (approximately 5cm. worth). Then Jessica showed Allison, Susana, and I how to fill in the context sheets (I was the official scribe for this first week), and we began with the first context. We dug, battling tree roots and worms, until we reached what we deemed to be a new context (we’re saving that for next week!). One particularly interesting thing from the initial context digging was how quickly we came upon the continuation of the wall that has already been partially excavated. It was lying almost directly under the surface –another curious facet of the structure. More excavation is clearly needed.

Sifting through the topsoil yielded a handful of tile pieces and bricks/mortar. It was a good introduction to the process, most specifically to how much physical effort is needed to work those rocking sifter screens! We won’t excavate again until Family Weekend – I’m excited to get back out there, especially since we’ve officially begun the process, formal recording of contexts and all!

Week 5 – 10/15, 10/17/11

On Saturday, I went and volunteered at Community Archaeology Day. It was a great dig day – beautiful weather, and even better was being able to explain what we were doing to the curious parents and students who came to watch us dig. Talking through our methodology and excavation plan, for me, was really satisfying, a sort of actual proof that I have been learning and mastering new skills so far this semester. I also had a chance to work on a different unit,Unit 14 (Unit 11 was, no surprise, covered in water, so we waited until Monday to clear off the tarp). We made good progress in Unit 14; while I was there, we worked through one context that had been previously opened. Valerie found an interesting metal piece – Jessica thought it was perhaps tied to the window structural remains that have been found in the area before.

On Monday, during class, I went back to working in Unit 11. When I arrived, Allison and Susana had already bailed out the water and removed the tarp (I got lucky!) and started a brand new context, context 79. We then proceeded first to shovel-shave it, then realized it was far too gravelly an drocky to work with the shovel. We switched to trowels and dust pans and began to *slowly* conquer the rocks. We’ve discovered that the two walls extend underneath the 1mX1m area we’re currently working on (the NW corner of the Unit), so we had to focus our trowel efforts specifically between where the two walls run parallel to each other. This gravelly context runs deep between the two walls – in the 2 hours we were digging, we kept the same context, fighting against the rocks and gravel down several centimeters. It was definitely frustrating, though, working the trowel through and against the rocks/gravel, all the while keeping the stone wall in situ and unharmed.

The day was hard work, but our efforts were not completely in vain. We found some old nails and some intact bricks (possibly part of the wall construction?), as well as some other red ceramic material fragments. Next week, we level will level and close this context, and move on to (hopefully) less gravelly layers.

Week 6 – 10/24/11

Another beautiful and gravelly-soiled day of digging! I arrived at 3 and found many already hard at work (some people had been able to come early, which is great because we only have a few more weeks of digging!). Our goal in Unit 11 for the day was to work all the way down through context 79 in the NW 1mx1m corner (where we've been working the last few class periods). We worked fairly quickly since it was all one context and we didn't have to establish and record major changes in the soil. It was, however, extremely rocky and gravelly, and also filled with random building fragments, such as pieces of mortar and broken bricks. This area between the two walls definitely appears to have been filled in intentionally and all at one time.

We tried to be as efficient as possible in making our way through the gravelly mess and ultimately found some great objects. Most notably was this fantastic brick object – a quite large, intact rectangular object with some design on the outside and with a square hole through the middle that ran lengthwise through it. Jessica mentioned that similar pieces had been found in previous years, so hopefully, with the help of past years’ reports and our own research, we’ll be able to put it in a solid context once we formally analyze it. We also found a beautiful piece of glass, several centimeters across all around and rather thick with a greenish tint. Both Jessica and Muge were impressed that it had not been broken further, because of its size. Finally, we also found several iron nails, as well as a small mass of iron, and a small sliver of white ceramic.

Now that the corner has been, for the most part, leveled to where past years’ had gotten down to, next week we can start excavating the entire unit. Susana, Allison and I are each going to take a section of the2mx3m, and we'll see what we find! Hopefully we’ll be able to get the entire unit down a few more centimeters in the next two weeks!

Week 7 – 10/31/11

Today, our second-to-last day outside, was also our coldest day outside to date! It was sunny, but chilly and damp, and the sun had clearly begun to set earlier. I arrived a little before 3 and once again was lucky that I had missed the weekly water-bailing-tarp-moving effort of Unit 11. Susana, Allison, and I were set to open new contexts across the entire Unit (the first time all semester that we are finally working on areas excavated during previous seasons!). We established that, from left to right, facing north, our contexts would be context 84 (the triangular area to the left of the first wall), context 85 (the area between the two walls, including where we were digging the past couple weeks), and context 86 (the triangular area to the right of the second wall).We then spent some time measuring and plotting the exposed stonewalls onto a master drawing for the unit, and then finally got down to excavating.

We divided the contexts amongst the three of us; I chose context 86. Since the area had been covered by the tarp after last year’s excavations, my section was very flat and packed-down. That combined with how damp and cold it was meant that mass troweling was not terribly effective. I then switched to shovel shaving, which was much more efficient. I focused my efforts on the north quadrant of my section, carefully working around and underneath the exposed watering/sprinkler plastic pipe that runs directly through the unit. I shoveled as best I could, then worked with the trowel and root-cutters to even out the section I was focusing on. Over the course of the class period, I was able to bring the section I working on at least 10 centimeters.

Unfortunately, I did not find too many interesting objects this week – another nail, some brick,and a few slivers of white ceramic. Allison, working in context 84, found some small pieces of painted/colored ceramic, which were quite striking! It will be interesting to analyze them properly. Susana, too, found some more building materials and rubble. An interesting/strange quirk of the area where I am working, though? All the larger, "woodier" tree roots are a mysterious hot pink color. Jessica was not sure why this was and a quick Google search right now did not yield any answers...

Ultimately, the work was slow and cold – I wish I had gotten more of the total area of context 86 excavated, but I did make good progress on the smaller section. Next week is already our last week outside (Kind of outrageous, actually! Where did this semester go??), so I shall be digging and quickly and accurately as possible, trying to bring the rest of the area/context 86 down to match the section I worked on today. Here’s hoping for good weather for one last week!

Week 8 – 11/7/11

Today was out last official day of digging! We lucked out both with the beautiful weather (especially for November!) and not having to bail out buckets of water (no rain in the past week…a true anomaly for Providence). We did, however, have to compete with a 4:45pm sun set, thanks to Daylight Savings. We dove right in, arriving a little before 3 and continuing work on our respective contexts in Unit 11. I had brought the northern more part of context 86 down about 10-12 centimeters last week, so this week I focused primarily on the rest of the triangular area. I used my shovel for the sake of time and size (and the nature of the context – all the same, very deep throughout the area), which meant that I spent a great deal of time sifting many heavy buckets of dirt…

The effort paid off, though! Not only am I feeling the effects of the lifting on my toned arms right now, but I also found some interesting pieces! Most notably was a circular/rounded, thick piece of black glass that popped out while I was troweling an edge of the unit. Prof Cherry, who had stopped by to see us work, said that it was probably the bottom of a 19^thcentury rum bottle! It was very exciting, and I look forward to washing it and seeing if there is any evidence of manufacturer, which could lead to a more precise date/information on who might have been using this piece and when. Another interesting find was a piece of curved ceramic that was painted in a blue and white (cream?) pattern, similar to the pieces that Allison has been finding in context 84 and 87. This piece was larger than ones that Allison has found, showing a greater amount of the pattern (it’s quite pretty!), and I look forward to analyzing it formally and comparing it to Allison’s finds and her thoughts. Finally, I also found a rather large iron nail, similar to ones found elsewhere in the unit.

Our efforts were cut-off rather quickly once the sun went down, so I’m not entirely sure how I left context 86. I’m hoping to do some finish-up work later this week during a final excavation session, though a date has yet to be set for that. I still need to bring down a tiny section in the south-most corner of the context, as well as clean up the areas along the edges of both the unit walls, as well next to the stonewall. Hopefully, this will get done, so I can leave it clean for next year’s excavators (odd to be saying that already…).

Amazing that this was our last formal class spent excavating…

Week 9- 11/14,11/16/11

On Monday, we actually met again at the site, having decided that we did indeed need the extra week of excavation. When I arrived, Jessica,Muge, and Allison had already cleared the inevitable water from the tarp, and I began working on the southern-most part of context 86, picking up where I had left off last week. I successfully brought that part down and then worked on leveling the entire context. I focused specifically on making sure the edges were clean and even, especially near the stonewall My efforts yielded a lot of dirt and not many finds, which ultimately was okay, since my main focus of theday was just to finish up and make sure everything was level. Jessica has mentioned that next year’s class may not be digging at the JBH anymore, which means that our work on Unit 11 will not be seen again for many years (or forever!). Still, I wanted to ensure that I left my context level, especially since Total Station points were being recorded for people’s final projects.

On Wednesday, some of us early in the day to do final straigraphy measurements. Allison, Susana, and I measured the west, east, andnorth walls, managing to get just about everything measured before it started to rain (our only direct encounter with rain all semester! We’ve been incredibly lucky with weather this fall!). It was interesting to see the definite distinctions in the soil along the sides of the unit – a real life case study of stratigraphic lines and distinctions!

Week 10 – 11/21/11

Today, we backfilled! We worked as a class on each unit, first covering the area with a tarp, then placing a 2011 penny on top (to establish the TPQ!), then hauling bucket after bucket of dirt to fill it all in. It was definitely bittersweet, especially seeing our Unit 11 be filled, knowing that it will probably not be opened again. The most exciting find ofthe day, though? Worms. And lots of them. They were living cozily under the tarps where we had been storing the previous backfill and freshly-sifted dirt, andthen quickly dispersed when we removed the tarps after backfilling.

Tomorrow, the class is meeting for the first time in the Carriage House to start analyzing finds and artifacts. I, however, am going home for Thanksgiving tonight, so I will miss the first lab session…:)

Week 11 – 11/28,11/29/11

On Monday, we met in the Carriage House to continue cleaning and categorizing artifacts. The session involved lots of scrubbing and scraping, though, after cleaning everything off, we had some really interesting things! I’m planning to write my object biographies on a piece of porcelain or semi-porcelain found in context 86, as well as the dark-green glass bottle bottom also found in context 86. A really cool, helpful historical archaeologist came to help us identify and sort remains (I can’t remember her name right now…), and she was a huge aid and very informative.

On Tuesday, during our early morning section, we also worked in the lab. Susana and Allison worked on labeling artifacts with nail polish and permanent markers, while I began to work with Jessica on my final project: categorizing all the ceramics from the last 4 years of excavation! I’m excited to start working on the project!

Week 12 – 12/5/11

Today, we gave our presentations to Dalila Goulart from the RIHS and JBH, and explained to the class how our final projects were going. Presenting to the class was super helpful and I got some great advice for data organization and investigation that I hadn’t thought of before. I’m going to definitely implement these ideas as I begin work on my final write-up and report. It was great to see everyone’s initial work and progress, and also to have a chance to review in detail the entire excavation process. I still cannot believe we are nearly finished with the semester!