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Cultural Resources Review Results #1, December 8, 2020

INTRODUCTION

Dredged material is processed according to the Level 1 Archaeological Monitoring protocol outlined in the draft Cultural Resource Monitoring Plan (revised September 2020). This protocol calls for dredged soft sediments to be placed directly into barges, floated to the processing facility, and screened over bars on a vibrating platform. Items removed during the vibratory screening process are then sorted by trained personnel as per the draft Cultural Resource Monitoring Plan. Items of potential interest (possible artifacts or objects of local interests) are placed in a separate stockpile and photographed for archaeologists to review. These items are then placed in a holding area for archaeologists to inspect. To date, the vast majority of the recovered items consisted of modern debris and timbers.

RESULTS

An archaeologist reviewed photographs of items recovered from dredge material processing facility sediment screening on 12/3/20. The archaeologist conducted a scheduled site visit on 12/4/20 to review the recovered items in person with the assistance of a dredge material processing facility machine and operator to sort through stockpiled items. The following photographs were taken of stockpiled items.

The majority of the items reviewed had been reviewed prior to the site visit via photographs. The recovered items were spread by machine on a flat hard surface to allow for an archaeologist to  clearly review them (Photograph 1). Any item of potential interest was moved to the side, rinsed and assessed. The majority of the recovered items consisted of modern debris and timbers. One item was recommended for retention; an approximately 2’ x 2’ piece of architectural masonry  (Photographs 2 & 3). Additional research may be able to associate this masonry with a building  or structure along the canal. In addition, a few pieces of disarticulated timber, possibly pieces of  bulkhead or cribbing, were photographed before being placed in the recommended discard pile (Photograph 4).

Photograph 1 – Overview of the spread-out of recovered items.
Photograph 2 – Architectural masonry, front view.
Photograph 3 – Architectural masonry, side view.
Photograph 4 – Possible bulkhead timbers recommended for discard.

ITEMS SEPARATED FOR FURTHER REVIEW

The archaeologist preliminarily identified one piece of architectural masonry from the screening  of Level 1 dredged debris to be retained for further analysis.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The archaeologist concludes that one item recovered during the sediment screening  retains possible historic/archaeological significance. Therefore, The archaeologist recommends that this single piece of architectural masonry be retained for further analysis and as per the draft Cultural Resource Monitoring  Plan, the disposal of all the non-historic/archaeologically significant debris staged at Clean Earth  that has been reviewed by the archaeologist as of 12/4/2020.