AAS members and guests shovel tested the Mill Pond Site (1-Tu-504) at Tannehill.
Steve Meredith, AAS President explains what has been found in a shovel test.
The volunteers completed forty shovel tests which revealed a scatter of flakes and small pot sherds. This was the first step in developing a comprehensive inventory of the prehistory of the park property. The Alabama Historic Ironworks Commission has limited resources to devote to this important phase of our archaeological management program so the work of the AAS is greatly appreciated.
The shovel test locations were tied into the archaeological grid for the 1200 acre park.
Amanda Finley, archaeologist and opera singer from St. Louis is a natural on the total station.
An accurately laid out shovel test grid is essential but I didn’t think we would have a well trained instrument person to help. Rain had prevented Cheryl Dawley and Cathrine Wright and me from
completing the grid during the week before the volunteers arrived, so I was sweating when Dr. Sharyn Jones, UAB Anthropologist, arrived Saturday morning with Amanda. When Amanda said she knew how to work the total station, I knew it would be a lucky day, it was.
Lab rats clean artifacts.
Jennie Mann and Catherine Wright washed and processed artifacts as soon as they came in from the shovel tests. They were so good at the job, that nearly half the material we recovered was processed befor we left the field. Lynn Meredith, left, kept track of which shovel tests were opened.
Men of Troy
Gregory Hicks and Daniel Lowrey screening.
Troy University has always been very supportive of the Alabama Archaeological Society. This weekend was no exception. Not only did they guys do a bunch of digging, they stayed late and helped carry much of the gear back to the truck.
The Jackpot.
Kelly and John Hoomes' shovel was so productive that we decided to expand it into a 1-meter square.
We had planned to open a few 1-meter squares if time permitted and our shovel test findings indicated that they were warranted. Kelly and John found flakes, a biface fragment and pot sherds in this test so we decided to open a square here.
Digging the Square.
Daughter, father team, Amy and Richard Kilborn spent some time in the 1-meter square. Steve Meredith (with trowel) checks out cluster of rocks in southwest corner.
A hearth?
A small cluster of burned sandstone rocks embedded in a lightly stained matrix may be a hearth.
In this video, Steve Meredith discusses the possible hearth.
The 1-meter square
Mary Spanos has created a great web site for the Alabama Archaeological Society. Check it out.
Mary Spanos taking pictures for our web site.
