METHODOLOGY
The method of excavation used during the 1993 season consisted of the removal
of plowzone deposits in regular levels that measured between 10 and 20 cm in thickness.
Nearly all excavated soils were screened through one-quarter inch mesh. In only
a few instances, and near the end of the season, plowzone deposits were screened
through one-half inch mesh in an attempt to expedite the completion of additional
units. Once the plowzone was removed, the underlying soil was examined for the
presence of cultural features. All features were excavated with trowels in 10
to 20 cm thick levels and mapped and photographed in plan and profile. All feature
fill was passed through one quarter inch mesh, and 10-liter flotation samples
were collected.
During the summer 1993 excavations, two (1.0 m by 1.0 m) subunits were added along
the northern edge of Trench 1 (subunits "q" and "r" in Figures
4 and 7) and two 2.0 m by 2.0 m test units were excavated at the western end of
Trench 1 (units "T" and "P" in Figures 4 and 7) for the purpose
of identifying cultural deposits located just inside the village perimeter. The
intensive excavations of the village area involved the use of one 3.0 m by 3.0
m unit, ten 2.0 m by 2.0 m units, two 1.0 m by 1.0 m squares, and five 2.0 m by
1.0 m test trenches (total of 71.0 square meters). These units were placed in
locations at which high densities of subsurface artifacts had been revealed by
the 50 cm by 50 cm test units or over specific areas where magnetic anomalies
were detected during the earlier survey. The overall excavation plan is illustrated
in Figure 4, in which the excavation units
for the summer 1993 investigation are designated "A" through "T".
A soil auger with a four inch diameter bucket was used to sample the subsurface
deposits at the northern edge of the site. A total of 14 auger samples were taken,
each to a maximum depth of 150 cm, or less if rock or other obstructions were
encountered. The soil from these cores was screened through one quarter inch mesh
and all artifacts were bagged by 10-15 cm levels.
During the spring of 1993, Stephen Ball of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology
carried out a magnetic survey of a portion of the Cox's Woods site using a Fluxgate
Gradiometer. At that time, two 10.0 m by 10.0 m grids were surveyed at an interval
of 0.25 meters. A similar magnetic survey, conducted at the Oliver Phase Clampitt
village site (12 Lr 329) during the spring of 1991, had been very successful in
detecting buried Oliver Phase pit features that contained high densities of pottery
and other cultural materials (see Ball 1993a and 1993b). During the summer of
1993, an additional eight and one half grids were surveyed in the southwest quadrant
of the site (Figure 5). Two other magnetometry
grids were placed in the unplowed area of the site, just to the west of the preserved
earthen walls (vicinity of N480 E500). However, the presence of a wire fence prevented
the taking of accurate readings and magnetic survey was discontinued in this area.
It was anticipated that the application of magnetic survey techniques to the Cox's
Woods site would identify possible areas of buried cultural deposits and might
detect portions of the now- invisible stockade line located on the western fringe
of the settlement. Excavation units A, M, and J were situated, accordingly, to
test three high-intensity anomalies detected during the magnetic survey. The results
of remote sensing are discussed in the following section.
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