State Archaeological Investigation of Brickell Point (8DA12)
Report: Week 3, 10/25 through 10/29

Prepared by Ryan J. Wheeler, Archaeologist
Bureau of Archaeological Research, 10/30/99

During our second week of field work, the auger testing and trench clearing/profiling components of our project have proceeded with some rewarding results. A backhoe was used at the end of this week to help in removing rubble and fill, especially at the western end of the property, allowing the use of the bucket auger when intact deposits were reached. The backhoe also was used to expose the northern septic tank associated with building 3 of the Brickell Point apartments. This septic tank is similar in size and alignment to the tank that intrudes on the Miami Circle feature; it is 70 feet west of that tank.

Eighty-eight auger tests have been completed at this point. Preliminary analysis of the auger test data indicates that there are extensive midden deposits, ranging from 30 cm to 60 cm in thickness beginning in the area around the Miami Circle feature and running to the west and south. The midden deposits thin rapidly at the eastern and southern ends of the property, where the limestone is closer to the surface. The ancient shoreline of the Miami River has been encountered in the auger tests on the northern and northwestern portions of the property-the limestone surface drops off sharply in these areas. In areas at the eastern and southern ends of the property the auger tests have revealed solution holes filled with midden and more regular, "pecked" or cut holes filled with midden. These "pecked" holes are like those encountered during earlier excavations at the Miami Circle feature and on other areas of the property, and are thought to be anthropogenic, or of human origin.

One of these "pecked" holes was found in Auger Test No. J34. In this unit disturbed fill soil was encountered from 0 to 25 cmbs (centimeters below surface). When the surface of the limestone was reached and brushed clear, it became apparent that a perfectly round hole was present, 14 cm in diameter, and filled with black earth midden. This holes was excavated by hand. Around 30 cmbs the top of a piece of coral was encountered, wedged against the north wall of the hole; opposite this, at roughly the same depth, a Pleuroploca gigantea (horse conch) columella was found, wedged vertically against the south wall. The midden was tightly compacted, and contained a variety of animal bone and marine shells, along with sherds of sand-tempered plain and St. Johns Plain pottery. The sides of the hole tapered gently to the bottom at 49 cmbs; the diameter at this point was 9 cm. In cross-section the bottom edges of the hole are slightly deeper than the center.

A larger, oval hole in the limestone was found in Auger Test No. N34. In this area the limestone is near the surface, below only 10 to 12 cm of rubble and fill. Thin pockets of undisturbed midden can be found in solution features and other irregularities in the limestone. This hole measures 36 cm by 20 cm, and is 38 cm in depth. The upper portion of the hole was filled with black muck, which contained many brown and rust colored root casts. A large irregular limestone cobble was encountered around 10 cm below the limestone surface in the western part of the hole; this cobble occupied almost the entire center of the hole and extended down to 20 cm below the limestone surface. The material below the rock was black earth midden, with animal bones and marine shells; artifacts found include sherds of sand-tempered plain and St. Johns Plain pottery, as well as a bone point.

One thing that the auger testing has made clear is that despite the absence of intact midden deposits on top of the limestone in some areas, the surface of the limestone is intact and contains solution features and human-made holes filled with midden material. This seems especially true of the eastern part of the property, and it is possible that there may be other alignments of "pecked" or cut holes in the limestone in this area.

Excavation of the intact midden material in Footer Trench No. 11 also has produced some interesting results. Numerous solution features have been found in the surface of the limestone, and several of the "pecked" holes, similar to those described above, have been found as well. The indurated crust, characteristic of the Miami Oolite, is readily visible on the limestone surface, in the solution features and in the "pecked" holes. Cemented midden also has been observed in all of these features. In Unit 7 of this trench the partial, articulated remains of a small animal have been found. This feature helps confirm that the midden is intact in this area, and suggests that it was deposited rather rapidly in order to cover and preserve these remains. Other artifacts recovered from this midden deposit include a barbed bone point, shell tools, and pottery sherds.

Portions of Footer Trench No. 12/13 also have been cleared and seem to share a similar profile with Footer Trench No. 11. The sharply sloping midden observed at the northern end of both trenches is probably the historic shoreline of the Miami River.

The auger testing will continue next week. Roughly 30 additional auger tests should provide sufficient information to map the extent of the midden deposits and, in combination with data from previous excavations and the current clearing/profiling of the footer removal trenches, should provide the necessary data to map the thickness of midden deposits across the site and the depth of the limestone surface across the site.

A plan of the septic tank uncovered this week is being drawn, and will show the trench dug through the surrounding midden deposits for the original placement of this tank in 1950. Plans to excavate two 1 meter square test units on either side of the southern end of the tank will be carried out next week. This element of the project is designed to address questions about the relationship of the Miami Circle feature to the septic tank system associated with the Brickell Point apartment complex built in 1950.