Day 3

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Unfortunately, we were rained out today. Heavy rains throughout most of the day made any fieldwork impossible. However, we were busy "washing" and doing preliminary identification work on several items. All the items shown in [photo #1]were found at one site, Unit 18. This unit is located on the northwest side of the site, away from where the cabin stood. Unit 18 has yielded evidence of blacksmithing at Arbuckle's Fort. Shown in [photo #2]is a brass band (top, far left), large spike or possibly barn stock (2nd, top left), horse shoe nail (3rd, top center), wrought nail (4th, center), metal piece? (5th,top right), nail fragment (top, far right), small brass piece (2nd row left), two nails (2nd row right), charcoal (3rd row left), animal bone (3rd row right), numerous large pieces of slag (bottom section).

The location of each artifact in Unit 18 was carefully "piece plotted" or mapped as each was found in the ground. Unit 18 was initially located by using a metal detector and excavation revealed not only an array of metal artifacts, but many pieces of slag - spent fuel - from the smithing fire. In the photograph at right, two larger pieces of the slag are shown in closer detail.

Tomorrow should bring dry weather and better field conditions. Visit us then to see our latest finds!

THE EXCAVATION 1997

September 22, 1997 | September 23, 1997 | September 24, 1997
September 25, 1997 | September 26, 1997 | September 27, 1997
September 29, 1997 | September 30, 1997 | October 1, 1997
October 2, 1997 | October 3, 1997 | October 4, 1997