be correctly described, therefore, as a rescue project 

 rather than an archeological excavation in the classic 

 manner. 



Initial work on the site was confined to a survej 

 of the area and the recovery of artifacts such as 

 ceramics, glass, and brickbats scattered on the top 

 of the disturbed clay. The principal concentration 

 of artifacts was encountered in the brick-strewn 

 vicinity of the residence and kitchen, though neither 

 feature was immediately discernible. This scatter 

 was flanked on the west by a windbreak of humus, 

 clay, and fallen trees, and had run out before reaching 

 a parallel windbreak to the cast. Finds extending 

 in the direction of the latter break included English 

 white salt-glazed sherds as well as bottle fragments 

 of the second quarter of the 18th century. A similar 

 scatter of later artifacts was found extending down 

 the southern slope of the neck at that extremity 

 of the two breaks. In no instance were any fragments 

 of white salt glaze found in stratified deposits, and 

 it must be assumed that they emanated from Un- 

 disturbed topsoil. 



To the southeast of the eastern windbreak on 

 ground sloping towards the secondary stream was 

 found a scatter of brick dust extending over an area 

 approximately 12 ft. by 14 ft., in the center of which 

 was a concentration of large overburnt brick frag- 

 ments with reddened clay beneath. No evidence 

 of any laid bricks was encountered, and it is possible 

 that this was the site of brickmaking rather than of 

 a structure. The only datable artifact found in the 

 vicinity was the base of a wine bottle of the first 

 quarter of the 18th century that was lying in the 

 silted bottom of a nearby rainwashed gully running 

 towards the stream. 



Close to the southern extremity of the east wind- 

 break was found a refuse pit (Pit A) containing ■> 

 quantity of late 17th-century or early 18th-century 

 wine-bottle fragments, among them one with the 

 seal "F i.'' Some 70 feet northwest of this pit was 

 located an area of laid brickbats that measured 4 ft. 

 6 in. by 4 ft. 6 in.; around the edges of this area 

 were found a few fragments of early 18th-centurv 

 wine bottles and one bottle base of the mid-century. 

 This last was the latest fragment found on the site. 

 No explanation for the presence of the brickbats was 

 forthcoming, and no further brick deposits were 

 encountered in the vicinity. 



Beyond the west windbreak and in line with the 

 residence were found numerous glass and pottery 

 fragments of the first and second quarters of the 18th 



none of them in situ. It was presumed that 



they stemmed from the vicinity of the residence and 



wen n I about by the bulldozing before the 



windbreaks were pushed up. Over and above the 



li I 1 ab ive, no other evidence 



1,1 ' i disi overed except in the 



immediate vii init} oi the two buildings 



The location of thi , apparent 



on the evidence of large quantities of disturbed bricks 

 and mortar scooped into east-wi the 



bulldozers. Careful probing in the two lamest con- 

 centrations of brickbats soon located sections <>i the 

 foundations of both buildings. It was then a simple 

 matter to trace out the plans of each building before 

 any digging was undertaken. This done, test cuttings 

 were made at the corners and across the chimney 

 foundations. Subsequently, additional cuttings were 

 made within each building to determine whether 

 or not either possessed a cellar. In the course of 

 this work en the smaller of the. two structures, 

 numerous refuse pits were located that helped to 

 provide a terminus post quern for its construction. 

 Each of these pits was treated as an individual feature 

 and will be discussed in detail in its proper place. 



The Residence 



The house, as previously stated, was built on a 

 north-south axis with its west face looking toward 

 College Creek. It looked eastward along the track 

 that led to the road linking Williamsburg with 

 Burwell's Ferry (Kingsmill) on the James River. The 

 residence possessed exterior measurements of 42 ft. 3 

 in. by 19 ft. 1 in. with a chimney foundation at the 

 south measuring 9 ft. 9 in. by 5 ft. and another, at 

 the north, measuring 9 ft. 11 in. by 4 ft. 11 in. These 

 chimneys had sides of varying thicknesses: 1 ft. 7 in., 

 1 ft. 9 in., 1 ft. 6 in.. 1 ft. 11 in., 2 ft., and 1 ft. 6 in. 

 The east and north foundations of the house itself 

 were a brick and a half (1 ft. 1 in.) in thickness, but 

 the south wall was only one brick thick i° in.)j al- 

 though the two foundations were bonded into one 

 another at the southeast corner. An even more 

 curious situation was provided by the west wall which 

 extended south from the northwest corner at a thick- 

 ness of 1 ft. 1 in. and for a distance (if 24 ft. 3 in., 

 whereupon it stopped. At this point the three sur- 

 viving courses wei ped back, indicating that 

 although there was no flush end, the bond had not 

 been intended to continue. At a point ^ in. farther 



PAPER 53: EXCAVATIONS AT TUTTER S NECK 



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