Fall 2004 Haun's Mill Dig Reports

September 12, 2004
    Twenty students from Shawnee Mission East made the trip to the site and opened two new squares. Our friend, Mindy Crum, came and her four years of experience with us was a big help with the newbies...we missed her daughter Desa though who is gone this year as a foreign exchange student in Germany.
One is to test an anomaly marked by Mr. Kitchen with his deep radar device. The other expands our checkerboard in the area of the house on the first hill west of the parking area which has prooved so productive in artifacts. We removed the soil from both and found some soda lime container glass in the first level near the house. No artifacts have yet been uncovered at the Kitchen anomaly. We (Mrs McGuire and Miss Kreig) did conduct probe tests every ten feet along a line 150 s from 150 to 250 west, splitting the two kitchen anomalies and testing them specifically without distinct difference. With the sod removed, we anticipate more artifacts next week.

     

September 19, 2004
   Two vans filled to capacity with SME students arrived at 2 p.m. Four students from my archaeology class claimed the square at 10s, 660w and defied the poison ivy to take it to level five. They cleared the stumps and left it looking good with clean walls and carefully leveled floor. No artifacts.
The team of four working on the Kitchen deep radar anomaly scraped it to level four and ran the open faced probe for a couple of tests. They found a nice clump of charcoal at 36 inches below surface amidst the lighter colored soil. No other disturbance was noted, but the charcoal must be investigated.
The Riggs' and Blank's went to dinner at "Seasons" in Gallatin the night before and there recruited Desa Crum's friend Slyvia (an employee) to come to the dig. Mindy brought her and they worked together on a newer square next to the vandalized one. Slyvia started to reveal an interesting pattern of medium sized limestone rocks...we shall see what develops.
When we arrived, it was to see a square in the house checkerboard disturbed. We had left it clean last week. Someone had gouged across the square, probably with a trowel, dislocating all the limestones and leaving us with uncertain provenience. We screened the loose soil, finding several artifacts, including; a glass handle, forged metal peice, earthenware, bone fragment and molten glass glob, which had been dislodged but missed by the intruder. Not much more was accomplished in that square today, but the mess has been cleaned up and we hope the piracy was an isolated event.

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

                     

October 09, 2004
    A beautiful Fall day at Haun's Mill, perfect for a dig! We were met at the site by a fine group of eager volunteers (LDS Youth from Jefferson City, MO) lead by Newell Kitchen. We also had five students (four of which were returning for their second time) and an adult driver from Shawnee Mission East High School.
We opened an additional square to check an anomaly identified with the ground penetrating radar. A couple of lithics were uncovered in 660w,10s by the SME students. One appears to be a fragment of a granite hammer stone. Another flaked specimen of gray chert was uncovered adjacent to a hand carved knife handle in 180w70s, level 6. The bone knife handle retains saw marks on the undecorated face. Most of the workers found cultural materials in the three squares associated with the structure with the key.
Newell Kitchen, who is also a USDA soils specialist, continued the ground penetrating radar survey assisted by Ron Romig and others completing another 30 meter square area just south of the 30 meter survey area done in August.
Another team tested ten foot intervals with the open ended probe. The two converged on an area near the tree line with a dense zone about 14 inches below surface where we anticipate opening a square. MMFF Board Member Dave McCune of Kidder confirmed another GPR location with his dowsing tool. That area also remains to be tested.
Rina DeBarthe demonstrated appropriate technique in uncovering the clay pipe bowl fragment under the watchful eyes of about 15 interested, if somewhat envious students.
Thanks to all for the fine cooperation and effective production of cultural materials on this beautiful day!

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

                   

October 17, 2004
   Another beautiful afternoon for a dig produced a remarkable pattern molded mulberry transfer printed decoration from perhaps a tureen base or lid, a green shell edged earthenware, a ferrous square shanked awl, needle or nut pick, and what appears to be a burned feature at the bottom of level 5 at 179w, 69s. The feature has not yet been defined because it may be incidental backfill for a rodent or crawdad hole, however, the two associated stoneware sherds hint at more than the burned earth and charcoal. Especially neat to have Mr. Akhtar and his daugher and Mr. Fagan and his son working together and finding things that made them all feel the afternoon was productive and fun.
Mindy rejoined us today with a glowing report from Dessa in Germany. As usual, the discussion in the squares may for some, have been more important than anything else found, however, we have nearly compensated for the piracy done last month and the squares are looking like they should. The newly opened 160w50s has a scatter of limestone suggesting another foundation beyond the house we have begun to identify. Perhaps we will know before we run out of time this season.

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

         

November 7, 2004
   
Five students rode with Mr. Bob Whitsitt to join Mindy and friend and Riggs and myself for a beautiful sunny afternoon on the dig. Miss Franklin found a musket ball. Two salt glazed stoneware fragments, a hand forged bolt and the regular assortment of square nail fragments came to surface to our trowels. Mr. Nasseri and Mr. Whitsitt with the sometimes aid of some of the ladies took the second Kitchen anomaly to level 6. The probe in that square then showed charcoal at 38" below surface. One small fragment of red hand painted earthenware was also uncovered amidst the photographed limestone scatter in the square at 160w 50s.
The season winds down with two sundays remaining on the schedule. With good weather we will continue to harvest the wealth of artifactual materials to reconnect with both remarkable cultures evident at Haun's Mill. The analysis of artifacts will generate follow up reports from students who are examining with increasing enthusiasm as the cultural inventory expands.

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

               

November 14, 2004
   
Interesting developments with a small crew today. The Kitchen underground radar test has produced charcoal and an aboriginal potsherd in level 8. While we have not completed the square at that level, the absence of Mormon period materials and the positive evidence of aboriginal material suggests that any feature is likely to be aboriginal. We have more red transfer printed earthenwares, square nails, and a fluted tumbler fragment, all probable Mormon period cultural inventory found in context with brick batts, burned limestone, burned sandstone, and fist-size and smaller limestone fragments undoubtedly from a structure. It appears that two structural remains are evident in the checkerboard we are excavating. A few artifacts post date the Mormon period, however, substantial numbers and categories fit the 1830s temporal frame. We will be tabulating over the next weeks. Four deer hunters, illegally camping on the site, took a doe today to the east of us. (They claimed permission to camp there from a self proclaimed "Haun's Mill site manager" who lives in Polo). A rich faunal and floral context must have made this refuge quite desireable to the settlers of the 1830s.

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

         

    Archaeoligist Paul DeBarthe and Historian Michael Riggs want to promote interest in continuing the reconnaissance project at Haun's Mill. The public and interested parties are invited to assist in Fall investigations. Those with an interest in Mormon and local history are strongly encouraged to join in this endeavor. At a flat rate of only $20.00 per person for as many times as you want to come this Fall, it is a real bargain. Paul adds, "we provide the trowel and paint brush you provide the hands that can get dirty." Even if only one trip is possible, it would be well worth your while and we could sure use your help. To be involved with future archaeological activities, contact Michael Riggs: farwest@cameron.net.