Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

During our June and July testing of the Powell Smokehouse, the Department of Archaeological Research discovered a .15' layer of yellow sandy clay with marl inclusions. This layer, which was cut by the builder's trench for the smokehouse, may have served as a floor for the smokehouse directly after its construction. At a later date, a thick (.6') layer of oyster shell and greyish sandy loam was deposited on top of this clay. When we excavated a small pit in the center of the smokehouse floor in early July, we revealed traces of possible firepits excavated into the oyster shell layer. Since we only saw a small section of these pits and since they were sealed directly underneath the modern brick floor of the smokehouse, it is impossible to date these pits without further work.

Please let me know if you require any further information on either of these test excavations.