JULY 5, 2004

From: Scott Beld
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004
To: Oxbow Archaeologists
Subject: Ponton Site - July 5, 2004

Hi Oxbow Archaeologists,

Francis, John O., and I made it out to the site yesterday. It was another perfect day!

We got quiet a few levels of Sections 5 and 6 (Feature 4) excavated.

Feature 4, Section 6, Level 6 (45-50 cm). I started the day excavating this level. Besides the usual flat glass and nails and the other usual “stuff,” I found a Brown Transfer sherd and a 1-piece button probably made of “German Silver” (a nickel alloy) with a brass eye (see Photo 1 in the photo gallery below).

Feature 4, Section 6, Level 7 (50-55 cm) and 8 (55-60 cm). Francis troweled these levels and found a Brown Transfer sherd with part of the pattern name (see Photo 2 in the photo gallery). This was going to be the “Artifact of the Week” but I found several unusual artifacts later in the day and I expect we’ll be finding more of this plate in Section 5 on Saturday! I’ve been able to identify the pattern as “Bakers Falls, Hudson River” from James and Ralph Clews series of “Picturesque Views.” In the photo, on the right, the top word is “Views” of “Picturesque Views”; the middle word “Falls” of “Bakers Falls”, and the bottom word “River” of “Hudson River.” I’ve been able to match the trees on the front of the plate (left photo) with pictures of the “Bakers Falls” and rule out two other patterns with pictures of waterfalls on the Hudson river. The picture in the center of the plate was painted by W.G. Wall, engraved by I.J. Hill, and published by Henry I. Megarey of New York in 1826 (reference Ellouise Baker Larsen, American Historical Views on Staffordshire China, pages 62-63). As you know we’ve been finding several of the impressed Clews backmarks on the site and you will recall that this company was in operation from 1817 to 1834. The “Picturesque Views” series is generally dated to the 1828-1834 period on the basis of the new colors used in the series that were introduced in the late 1820’s (i.e. black, light blue, brown, green, lavender, pink, and purple as opposed to the earlier dark blue).

Feature 4, Section 5, Level 1 (22-25 cm). John and Francis troweled this level. A pipe bowl fragment was recovered in addition to the usual nails, flat glass and brick fragments.

Feature 4, Section 5, Level 2 (25-30 cm). John and Francis troweled this level, A large brick fragment, a pipe bowl fragment and half of a bone button were found.

Feature 4, Section 5, Level 3 (30-35 cm). John troweled this level. One Old (Dark) Blue Transfer sherd, a pin, and a thimble (see Photo 3 in the photo gallery) were found.

Feature 4, Section 5, Level 4 (35-40 cm). I troweled this level. In addition to the usual nails, etc. there were two pins and a screw.

Feature 4, Section 5, Level 5 (40-45 cm). I troweled this level. There were several interesting items including a large bone fragment, a large piece of thin iron sheet, and a bone or antler tool handle (see Photo 4 in the photo gallery). I’ve sent pictures of the bone (cow or the Ponton’s ox??) and a tooth (pig?) to Terry and will let you know what he thinks when I hear from him. The tool handle has a bit of iron showing on the end – possibly an awl (see Photo 5). I also found a somewhat interesting iron fragment though I’m not sure what it is (see Photo 6).

I think next Saturday should be quiet interesting. We’ll finish Feature 4 – the next two levels (10 cm) should have some interesting material. We’ll also start excavating Feature 5 (“the big mess”).

Tomorrow (Wednesday) we’ll do lab work at the RB. I’ll probably try to process a lot of flotation samples and I’d like to get some of the artifacts from Feature 4 washed.

Hope to see you at the site.

Scott

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Scott G. Beld, Ph.D.
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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