SEPTEMBER 11, 2004

From: Beld, Scott
Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2004
To: Oxbow Archaeologists
Subject: Ponton Site - September 11, 2004

Hi Oxbow Archaeologists,

We made it out to the Ponton site yesterday and excavated. Marianne, Kevin, Francis, and I made it out. We excavated two plow zone units and continued Feature 5 (see Map September 11, 2004 in the photo gallery below).

I worked on Feature 5, Unit 515R497 and excavated it to 75 cm below the surface. There is still probably about 25 cm remaining in this section. Only a few pieces of flat glass, a few nails and couple pieces of wire were recovered.

521R497. Marianne, Kevin, and Frances excavated this unit. Numerous brick fragments, flat glass, nails, earthenware (including Old Blue, Blue, Red, and Brown Transfer, Handpainted, and Blue Edge), and pipe stem fragments were recovered (see Photo 6). The Brown Transfer sherd from this unit has part of a pattern name preserved on the back – “Junc[…]” and “Sac[…]” (see Photo 1). This is probably the pattern “JUNCTION OF THE SACANDAGA AND HUDSON RIVER” – one of the series of “Picturesque Views” manufactured by James and Ralph Clews (Staffordshire, England) ca. 1829-1836 (reference -- Ellouise Baker Larsen, American Historical Views on Staffordshire China, page 67). You may recall that we found another pattern from this series, “BAKER’S FALLS, HUDSON RIVER,” in Feature 4 earlier in the summer (see our website -- JULY 5, 2004).

521R496. Frances and I excavated this unit. Numerous brick fragments, flat glass, nails, earthenware (including Red Transfer, Blue Edge, Handpainted, and Annular), redware, and pipe fragments (including a stem, plain bowl, and ribbed bowl fragments) were recovered (see Photo 7). Among the earthenware was another fragment of an impressed James and Ralph Clews (ca. 1819-1836) backmark (see Photo 2) – this could easily go with the Brown Transfer sherd with the pattern name from 521R497! Frances also found a nice decorated 3-piece brass button with “RICH ORANGE” (a quality designation) on the back (see Photo 3).

I’ll post more pictures on the website again this week, including more pictures of artifacts from the plow zone units and views of the excavation (see Photos 4-7 in the photo gallery below).

This Wednesday we’ll do lab work at the Resource Building. Next Saturday we’ll plan on excavating at the Ponton site as usual.

Hope to see you at the site.

Scott

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Scott G. Beld
Research Associate II
The University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology
1109 Geddes Road
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1079
Phone: 734-764-0489 (UMMP Main Office)
734-763-9253 (My Office)
Fax: 734-936-1380
Email: sbeld@umich.edu
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