This context contains artifacts from a charred wooden floor encountered as stratum 5 in Test Cut J located on Lot 28 off of Water Street. Excavation began at the level of the wooden basement floor of the most recent building to stand on the lot and revealed the remains of two additional wooden floors. Floor #2 was 7-10 inches below the latest floor (#1) and floor #3 was 4-10 inches below floor #2. Each of the three floors was supported on round logs four to six inches in diameter, running in an east-west direction.
In 1835, a fire destroyed the portion of Water Street in which Lot 28 is located. Construction of floor #2 probably occurred after this fire. Floor #3 was definitely burned, while floor #2 and its joists were not. Thus, floor #2 is associated with the reconstruction of the building after the 1835 fire, while floor #3 was destroyed in this fire.
This context is thought to be associated with the Great Fire of 1835.
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Collection method
This context was excavated using trowels. All of the soil was dry screened using 1/4 inch mesh.
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Soil description
Charcoal
