Name/Title
Whites Trace Branch: Archaeological Shovel Test Pit #1Entry/Object ID
WTB3.STP.01Description
Contents from archaeological Shovel Test Pit at Whites Trace Branch Site #3 on 11/7/2009, these items were found in STP #1.
Some artifacts here are consistent with presence of a fireplace, or an outdoor cooking area.
Collection spans two bags, and includes:
two (2) pieces of an iron fire grate, as for holding logs + multiple trace pieces of likely-related rusted metal
one (1) bag of nails and related debris, possibly from the burning of building lumber
one (1) neck of glass bottle, inner diameter too small for drinking vessel
fourteen (14) fragments of bone (two burned), including one longer at 4.21", partial mammal leg bone
two (2) shards of glazed ceramic pottery
one (1) small metal buckle, probably brass
ten (10) mineral specimens, some clearly bituminous coal but others may be charcoal, as from a cooking fire
twenty two (22) shards of broken plate glassContext
A shovel test pit (STP) is a standard method for Phase I of an archaeological survey. It designates a series of test holes, usually dug out by a shovel (hence the name) in order to determine whether the soil contains any cultural remains that are not visible on the surface. The soil is sifted or screened through wire mesh to recover the artifacts.
STPs will often be laid out over the project area in a grid-like fashion or in a consistently spaced line, creating a fairly systematic survey. Therefore, after the holes have been dug, one may map artifact densities over the project area, pinpointing the locations of possible sites where further investigation may be necessary.Collection
Blair Mountain ArchaeologyParts
Count
58Parts
smaller piece in bag of nails uncountedMaterial
Iron, Glass, Bone, Ceramic, BrassRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Blair Mountain Archaeology GroupRelated Places
Place
Location
Blair Area: Whites Trace BranchRegion
Blair Mountain Battlefield, Southeast, Blair AreaContinent
North AmericaRelated Events
Event
Battle of Blair Mountain (1921)Provenance
Provenance Detail
Archaeological FindNotes
11/7/2009
