pip.No^'llr" HISTORIC SITES ARCHEOLOGY — MILLS 43 



The structures connecting the living units had been enclosed by 

 vertical planks, the butts set about 2 inches into the ground. These 

 were indicated by narrow trenches along the east and west wall lines 

 that contained bits of rotted wood. The east trench was broken by 

 a space wide enough for a doorway, and this open area was covered 

 with bits of fine gravel of the type that occurred in a pathway east 

 of the building. This connecting structure must have had a dirt floor 

 as there was no evidence of wood flooring. 



In the other occupation unit a number of charred timbers were found 

 in proximity to a probable chalkstone forge. These appeared to be roof 

 timbers rather than supports for a wooden floor. The hard dirt floor 

 was baked in some areas by the fire. This room may have been used 

 as a blacksmith shop. The 5- x 4.1-foot chalkstone platform, about 

 8 inches high, may have been the forge. Three feet south of the 

 forge was a 9-inch oak post that may have supported an anvil, and 

 the remnants of what was probably a large water barrel, commonly 

 associated with blacksmith shops, were still farther to the south 

 (pi. 6, 6) . Here there was evidence of two iron barrel hoops and small 

 portions of charred wood. There was a large amount of iron stock 

 and tool fragments ; the latter are represented by portions of a chisel, 

 hoe, blade, axhead, wagon iron, and spikes. A door hook located in 

 the center of the west wall may indicate an entrance in that vicinity. 



Near the excavated building were found the remains of a well. The 

 surface indication was a depression approximately 10 feet in diameter 

 by 2.5 feet in depth. The outline of the well appeared in the darker 

 fill when the top soil was removed. The well diameter was approxi- 

 mately 4 feet. Mr. King stated that he filled in the well in the nineties 

 because it was a danger to stock. Thus the material in the upper part 

 of the well is of a late date and was discarded. Below the 12-foot depth 

 the oak cribbing in the well was still intact. This cribbing was made 

 from a series of logs about 7 inches in diameter, split on the long 

 axis and notched at the ends. The inside diameter of the cribbed sec- 

 tion was 3.3 feet. The well measured over 18 feet in depth, but the 

 exact depth was indeterminable because of the sand which seeped in 

 from the sides with the water during the process of excavation. The 

 well above the cribbing had evidently been walled with logs placed 

 vertically and held by iron hoops. 



The material in the lower 5 feet of the well was in excellent preser- 

 vation. Fifty-eight ice gliders (pi. 7) , an octagonal barrel of a buffalo 

 gmi, wagon irons, square-toed shoes, and window glass were recovered 

 from that depth. The ice gliders are evidence of Indian activity near 

 the site. 



The one cellar excavated on the side was approximately 2.5 feet deep, 

 13.3 feet long, and 11.5 feet wide. The sandy walls were sloped to 



