State Archaeological Investigation of Brickell Point (8DA12)
Report: Week 4, 11/1 through 11/5
Prepared by Ryan J. Wheeler, Archaeologist
Bureau of Archaeological Research, 11/7/99
Our third week of fieldwork saw the completion of the auger testing. Combined with information collected from trenches and excavations, data from 115 points across the property are being used to generate a series of maps that document the physical contours of the Miami Oolite formation in this area, the extent and contours of the midden, and the thickness of the midden deposits across the site. Information on the vertical elevation of the limestone formation, midden, and present surface, relative to the North American Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD), has been compiled for each point. To date, draft maps of the contemporary surface contours, limestone bedrock surface contours, and midden surface contours have been produced. The site boundaries also have been defined through this process, by using information on the distribution of the midden and the presence of features in the limestone surface. Because the limestone contains many natural and human-made features that are filled with midden, the boundaries of the site extend to the historic shoreline of the Miami River.
The clearing and profiling of Footer Trench 11 has been completed. The resulting profile and plan of the trench provides a detailed cross section of over 10 meters of the site. As noted before, the removal of the Brickell Point apartment footers in 1998 left a considerable deposit of intact midden in the bottom of this trench. Excavation of this material over the last two weeks has revealed numerous solution features filled with intact midden deposit. At least two of the cut holes were also encountered in the bottom of the trench. Other notable features include the partial, articulated remains of a raccoon (primarily the lower portion of the creature's body, pelvis fragments, femurs, tibia, and os baculum), as well as those of a sea turtle (portions of the carapace, femur). These remains confirm that the midden is intact here and indicate that it was probably deposited rather rapidly. The midden observed in the trench walls is relative uniform, with lenses of Lucine clam shells in several places.
Excavation is almost complete on the first of two 1 m by 1 m units placed adjacent to the septic tank that was uncovered last week. This unit is being dug in east and west halves. Excavations have recovered pottery, as well as bone and shell artifacts, and a possible floor in one area. The limestone bedrock was covered with a layer of Lucine clams and other shells, and one area held four articulated shark vertebrae. All materials are water screened through 1/16" mesh, and everything remaining in the screen is bagged. So far the only feature encountered in the limestone is a small hole-8 cm in diameter and 7 cm deep, which contained a rock (that almost filled it), a stack of 4 Lucine clam shells, and cemented midden material. Indications of another feature like the Miami Circle have not been found. Excavations will continue in this area.
One of the auger tests (K40), placed near the eastern edge of the property, uncovered several large blocks of molded concrete. These looked quite different than the other examples of concrete frequently encountered across the property. The blocks appear to be composed of Portland cement and beach sand and each has two or more sides that are finished flat. The blocks are reinforced with wire or thin metal rods. The matrix in this area is primarily disturbed midden. Several individuals examined these, and all agreed they were late nineteenth or early twentieth century, possibly associated with the Brickell occupation of the property.
An area toward the east side of the property, near the disturbance left from the demolition of the swimming pool, is being examined for holes cut in the limestone-similar to those found in the area of the Miami Circle feature. The auger survey encountered a number of the cut holes in this area, all filled with intact midden deposits. The construction fill is relatively thin in this area, and midden deposits overlying the limestone bedrock are thin or absent. The area of contact between the limestone and fill contains artifacts of the nineteenth century, including glass bottle fragments, a wire-wound glass bead, and cut nails, possibly associated with the Brickell occupation of the property. An area several meters square has been cleared and revealed a number of the cut holes, some of which suggest a pattern. This area will be explored further over the next few weeks.