My name is Shannon Bennett.  I am a graduate student in the Industrial Archaeology Program at Michigan Technological University.  This is my first archaeological field experience and I am learning many new concepts and gaining practical knowledge.

Over the course of week five at the West Point Foundry, excavations have progressed and uncovered new discoveries. Work continues in the industrial core and the East Bank House.  We were also joined by our first volunteers this week, Tricia and Doug, both staying with us for two weeks. It is great to have their help and fresh outlook on the site.

In the industrial core, there are two main areas of focus this week; the Boring Mill and the Battery Pond.  Bode and Craig have been working at the Boring Mill, focused on exposing five pier structures that perhaps held the Boring Mill’s flumes.  They are seeking to find where these piers meet other structural walls and their exact purpose.  Bode and Craig hypothesize that they may represent different construction phases due to their assembly and placement.  The Battery Pond continues to be worked on by Cameron and Dan.  This week they found two parallel walls of cut stone that may have acted as a drainage channel.  They have also further exposed the large iron slabs surrounding the pond area.  In addition, other channels have been uncovered but it is unclear yet which may be the original channel. 

Up at the East Bank House excavations have continued to uncover new features and numerous related artifacts.  Unit 3.10A was closed this week. Stephanie successfully exposed the extent of the wall within the unit and what could possibly be a posthole within it.  The unit was closed after reaching sterile soil and the bottom of the wall structure.  The northern end of the wall was not found and further investigation may extend beyond the excavation unit to find it.  Vanessa, Tricia (a volunteer), and I continued work in unit 3.9A.  This unit contains another portion of the wall.  We are exposing the wall and may have found a posthole similar to that in unit 3.10A.  A new unit was opened immediately to the south of 3.9A attempting to discover the articulation of the wall to the house foundation.  Cal and Doug (another volunteer) are excavating this portion and have found some stones that may be part of the same wall. 

Vanessa and Elizabeth took turns this week working on unit 4.8B.  This is a 1x1m unit investigating the eastern extent of the brick “patio” in relation to the house foundation.  Although the bricks stop at the western side, the foundation we expected to find at the same level is not intact.  Therefore, it will be necessary to dig deeper in the eastern portion of the unit to find foundation stones.  Nikki has been working in the first unit to be located inside the house foundation this year, 3.7A.  She found what seems to be a large portion of plaster, possibly wall fall, with melted glass adhered to it.  Sam and Lindsey have continued their excavations in units 2.7A and 2.7B.  In 2.7A, they have uncovered the extension of a lead pipe that was found in an adjacent unit last year.  In 2.7B, they have found a circular iron feature that is probably a barrel hoop.  Further excavation will reveal its nature.  All of these units continue to be interesting and complex.  

Due to inclement weather, a larger portion of our week than normal was spent in the lab processing artifacts.  The processing of artifacts is an important part of the archaeological process.  We are all learning the proper methods of cleaning artifacts and how to record them accurately.  These methods include washing the glass and ceramics, dry brushing metal artifacts, and handling organic materials.  Lee has been integral in this learning process by organizing the lab and providing us with guidance, explanations, and the appropriate recordation forms.  We were able to finish the artifacts recovered thus far from unit 2.7B and then began processing those from unit 2.7A.  This week also began the rotation of students between the lab and the field to facilitate quicker artifact analysis. 

Overall, this week has been a productive one.  Further excavations were carried out that uncovered new structural elements and artifacts.  Previous units were closed and new ones were opened to further answer questions about the site.  The arrival of our first volunteers, Tricia and Doug, also added to the success of this week and greatly aided in our work.