Introduction
Rich middens and intact subsurface features relating
to early 19th-century rural, domestic occupation describe the Reiff
site (18WA454), which is located on level uplands within a small,
mid 19th-century commercial hamlet in the midst of rolling farmland.
Archaeological Investigations
Jim Gibb conducted Phase II and Phase III investigations
at the Reiff site for MD Route 58 and Route 63 road development.
Excavation, archival research, and subsequent analysis revealed
the remains of a fieldstone footer and relatively intact deposits
representing a c. 1820-1850 tenant occupation on the Jacob Zeller
plantation.
Archeobotancial Studies
Archeobotanical studies at the Reiff site included
routine soil sampling from test units during Phase III data recovery.
A presence/absence analysis was conducted by Justine McKnight.
Standard 2-liter samples were retained from 8 contexts.
Wood charcoal was present in eight of the nine flotation samples.
Species identified include white oak, pine, American chestnut, and
maple. Hickory nutshell was recovered from a single sample (N65
E95 Strat 6B). Seed remains were present in two samples (N10 E160
Strat 5 and N60 E 95 Strat 1). Identified species include grass,
nightshade, dock, and goosefoot. Fungal remains were noted in a
single sample (N60 E95 Strat 3).
The assemblage from the Reiff site is consistent
with the 19th-century flora of Washington County and with our understanding
of plant utilization during the early 1800s.
References
Gibb, James G. |
2006 |
Median Ceramic Dates for Hagerstown Valley Pottery. Maryland Archeology 42 (1):15-23. |
|
Gibb, James G. and Tara Pettit |
1995 |
Phase I Intensive Archaeological Survey of
Cearfoss Roundabout, MD 63 at MD 58, Washington
County,
Maryland, and Phase II Site Examination at the Reiff Site (18WA454). |
|
1997 |
Phase III Archaeological Data Recovery at
the Reiff Site (18WA454), MD 63 at MD 58 Cearfoss
Roundabout,
Cearfoss, Washington County, Maryland.
|
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