Phase II and Phase III Archaeological Database and Inventory
18WA467 HB-1
Diagnostic Artifact Data
Features
Summary
The site (18WA467) was originally identified in 1997 by R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates as part of a Phase I Reconnaissance survey at the Newgate Industrial Park in Hagerstown, MD. The site is part of a farm complex consisting of a standing log/brick house, the ruins of a stone bank barn, the ruins of an ice house or spring house, a frame shack and two stone-lined wells. The archeological component is associated with these structures. The farm is situated on fields of Hagerstown Silt Loam. The Hagerstown soil series consists of deep, well-drained, reddish soils on the upland areas, which is formed from material weathered from hard, fairly pure limestone.
Archival research revealed that the Ridenour Farm Site was occupied for nearly 200 years by the Ridenour and Bear families. After 1940 the farm was modernized resulting in heavy disturbances around the farm buildings on the north side of the site. The Ridenour Farm Site, a good representative example of a 19th century farm related occupation in the county, contains several segments determined to have stratigraphic integrity and intact cultural resources. Because site 18WA 467 is considered to be a significant archeological resource and offer research value to Washington County and greater Maryland, it is thought to possess the qualities necessary for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Phase II testing at the site consisted of shovel testing and test unit excavation. A total of 113 shovel tests were excavated to determine if the site boundaries identified during Phase I work included the full extent of the deposits. Although the horizontal boundaries of the site were found to extend around the entire perimeter of the farm complex, it was the southern half that was determined to have potential significance. Eight 0.9144 X 0.9144 meter (3 X 3 foot), one 1.2192 X 0.9144 meter (4 X 3 foot), and one 0.6096 X 1.2192 meter (2 X 4 foot) test unit were strategically placed in several segments of the site in order to assess archeological significance.
The Phase II material recovery contained a total of 5,398 artifacts. It was composed of modern artifacts as well as earlier materials consisting mostly of domestic- and architectural-related items. The material recovery was overwhelmingly dominated by domestic (mostly kitchen-related) artifacts such as ceramic sherds and container glass. Several segments of the site where artifact yields were high, stratigraphic integrity was found to exist, particularly east of the farmhouse. Several intact buried cultural features were identified during excavation. They included: 1) the foundation of a smokehouse with an associated hearth base; 2) the base of a wooden barrel, including its hoop; 3) the domestic midden feature previously identified during Phase I; and 4) a possible post-mold.
During Phase II work a total of 26 activity items were recovered, including a drill bit, 16 charcoal briquets, and 8 toys (2 ceramic marbles, 5 porcelain figurine parts, and a porcelain dog). One stable-related object is part of the activity item assemblage, a metal horseshoe. The architectural assemblage consists of some 1403 objects, mostly nails. In fact, 695 nails were encountered, 103 wire nails, 67 machine cut, and 525 unidentifiable nails. Glass was also in abundance, with 205 fragments of plate window glass and 37 shards of mirror (apparently not a personal mirror) being reported. Other architectural objects encountered were 331 brick fragments, 89 pieces of mortar, 7 cement objects, 2 pieces of asphalt, 1 piece of concrete, 12 fragments of stucco, 1 piece of wood, 3 fragments of terra cotta tile/pipe/other, 2 screws, 11 pieces of architectural stone, 2 nuts, 2 bolts, 2 door hinges, and 1 piece of tile. The site yielded 10 clothing-related items; 8 buttons (1 plastic, 1 wooden, 6 metal), 1 fabric zipper fragment, and a hair barrette. The only item that might be furniture–related appears to be a ceramic drawer pull. A total of 3,237 kitchen-related items (most of the report’s “domestic” assemblage) were recovered. The kitchen ceramics included 15 creamware sherds, 27 pearlware, 332 whiteware sherds, 353 ironstone, 10 yelloware and 2 Rockingham sherds, 349 redware sherds, 68 unidentifiable lead-glazed earthenware sherds, 1 white salt-glazed stoneware sherd, 38 unidentifiable stoneware sherds, 2 hard- and 20 soft-paste porcelain fragments. In addition, 1757 container glass objects were encountered (1493 bottle and 264 vessel glass shards) along with 277 faunal remains (16 oyster shell, 240 bones, 21 teeth), and a silver spoon or fork handle. Twelve personal items were excavated including a metal bell, a metal change purse, a metal dog tag, a 1941 Lincoln penny, 3 pencil parts, 5 fragments of an earthenware baseball glove figurine. Three tobacco-related items were encountered; 2 pipe stems and a pipe bowl. Finally, there are 691 miscellaneous items such as a 67 pieces of coal, 118 fragments of slag, a piece of burnt wood, 48 fragments of charcoal, 239 unidentified pieces of metal, a barrel hoop, 189 fragments of plastic, 8 pieces of rubber, 12 pieces of graphite, and 8 miscellaneous items. Much of this last group consists of modern items.
The faunal collection from the site consisted of 277 vertebrate and invertebrate remains. Mammals and birds were the only two classes representing vertebrates. The small, fragmentary condition of the bone collection made it difficult to properly identify most of the specimens according to species. The majority of the 190 mammal bones were though to belong to large, domesticated species. Pig was the only species positively identified, with 12 teeth and 23 probable bone fragments recovered. The only other large mammal species identified was whitetail deer with the recovery of a short bone. Small mammal remains were less well represented, but opossum and groundhog were identified. Thirty-nine bird bones were recovered and are thought to be chicken, goose, duck and/or turkey. Twenty-five unidentifiable bone fragments were also found. Twenty-three invertebrate remains were encountered including at least 22 oyster shell fragments and a clam shell.
The work performed during Phase II, indicates the presence of a late 18th-early 19th century component (c. 1775-1820), a 19th-early 20th century component (c. 1820-1920), and a modern component (c. 1940-present). The late 18th to early 19th century component was defined by the presence of white salt-glazed stoneware, creamware, and pearlware, and was confined to an area directly east of the house. The superficial nature of this component was likely related to the late 18th century initial occupation of the site and Martin Ridenour's untimely death in 1807. Dominating the site and perhaps intruding into the earlier occupation was the 19th-early 20th century component, which marked the Bear family ownership. Unlike the earlier component, domestic refuse associated with the 19th-early 20th century occupation was distributed around the entire perimeter of the farmhouse. Materials associated with the most recent component were recovered all-over the site.
Excavation established that the site had integrity. Stratigraphic integrity was isolated to several segments east and south of the farmhouse. Impact from the modern period was also present at the site, but was mostly confined to the northern half where the farm complex was modernized during the 20th century.
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