This context (Cat# 542: Lot 27*, Shovel Test 16, Strat 2, Level b) consists of artifacts from the soil between a burned wooden floor and a large ceramic shop deposit located in Lot 27*. The ceramic shop deposit was sampled with Shovel Test 16, Test Cut AO and Shovel Test 22. At a depth of 10 to 12 inches below the brick floor, a burnt and decayed wooden floor was uncovered. A stratum of light brown sandy silt with mortar underlay the burnt wooden floor.
The soil deposited below the burned wooden floor and above the ceramic deposit yielded 458 ceramic sherds with a mean ceramic date of 1799.2. This assemblage contained 10 whiteware sherds, suggesting a deposition after 1810. The wooden floor was likely built between 1820 and 1835. Between 1794 and 1795, John Elting ran a “China, Glass and Earthenware” shop, and from 1798 to 1820, John Manley ran a “Glass and China Store” on the lot. By 1820, the ceramic shop was no longer in operation and the floor was likely burned during the Great Fire of 1835. For more information about the deposits related to the ceramic dump, please read pages 101 to 112 of the 7 Hanover Square site report.
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Collection method
Excavated this context using shovels and trowels. The soil was partially dry screened using 1/4 inch mesh.
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Soil description
Light brown sandy silt
