Historic Christ Church-Archaeology: Phase I Site Survey

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Phase I Archaeological Survey--April 1999

In the spring of 1999, the Foundation commissioned John Metz to perform a Phase I archaeological survey, also known as an identification survey, on 2.8 acres south of the church. A Phase I archaeological survey provides general information on the location, boundaries, date, and integrity of archaeological resources. Interest in this project grew from the discovery earlier that spring of a substantial amount of brick and charcoal found in trenches dug to disconnect utility lines from a small frame structure located on the site. When results from the first phase of testing proved promising, Metz expanded his survey to 10 acres, including the churchyard itself and areas to the east, west, and north of the church.

Archaeologist John Metz screens a shovel test pit in his survey of Historic Christ Church.

John Metz shows some of the artifacts found in a shovel test pit.

Metz excavated some 331 shovel test pits during the course of his work. Ultimately, he identified nine archaeolgocial sites, five of which were deemed to be potentially significant for more extensive research:

Site I: Located east and south of the church. Includes the probable location of three brick kilns and a clay tempering area that pre-date 1750.
Site II: Located south of the Carter Reception Center. Presence of shell-tempered mortar, used brick, ceramics, bottle glass, and table glass suggests a structure or dependency from later in the eighteenth century.
Site V: Located in northeast corner of the churchyard. Appears to be the site of the original 1670 Christ Church building. Architectural artifacts indicate the structure may have had a brick foundation, tile floor, and glass windows. Delftware, Sgraffito slipware, case bottle glass, and a domestically made pipe stem suggest dating from the late seventeenth century.
Site VI: Located north of the churchyard. Artifacts recovered suggest a substantial outbuilding with a brick foundation and windows. Some domestic debris. Slag and sheet iron fragments may be evidence of metalworking.
Site VII: Located west of church. Artifacts include brick, window glass, shell mortar, nails, leaded-table glass, and a utilitarian, lead-glazed earthenware. Possible outbuilding that may have had a brick foundation and glass windows.