HYATT CENTRIC, 1619 AND 1711 KING STREET ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA PREPARED FOR: MHF KING STREET V LLC 300 CENTERVILLE ROAD, SUITE 300 EAST WARWICK, RI, 02886 401.562.2229 PREPARED BY: HEATHER CROWL, MA, RPA PETER REGAN, MA, RPA SCOTT SEIBEL, MSC, RPA PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: SCOTT SEIBEL, MSC, RPA AECOM 12420 MILESTONE CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 150 GERMANTOWN, MD 20876 301.820.3000 JULY 2018 Page Intentionally Blank Abstract AECOM conducted archaeological investigations within two parcels at 1619 and 1711 King Street in Alexandria, Virginia, proposed for construction of the Hyatt Centric hotel that together amount to approximately 0.5 acres. Work was conducted pursuant to the City of Alexandria’s Archaeological Protection Code (1989) and in accordance with the City of Alexandria Archaeology Standards (Alexandria Archaeology 2007). The archaeological investigation included demolition monitoring, mechanical excavation of 12 test trenches, and hand excavation of six shovel test pits and one 3-x-3-foot test unit. The investigation resulted in recovery of 349 historic artifacts, documentation of two historic features, and identification of one historic site: 44AX0234. Site 44AX0234 is a multi-component historic site dating from the late eighteenth through mid- twentieth century. The site components are stratigraphically distinct. The late eighteenth to early nineteenth century component consists of a yard scatter identified within a truncated buried A horizon and a small soil stain (Feature 2). The mid-nineteenth through mid-twentieth century component includes a mixed yard deposit likely associated with two former dwellings in the vicinity and a demolition debris pit (Feature 1) associated with a third former nineteenth century dwelling. Site 44AX0234 does not retain a high level of integrity and has low research potential. It is recommended not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. No further archaeological investigation is recommended prior to construction of the proposed hotel. i Abstract Page Intentionally Blank ii Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 2.0 Project Location and Description..................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Project Area Description ............................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Geology and Topography .............................................................................................. 2-1 2.3 Hydrology...................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.4 Soils ............................................................................................................................... 2-2 3.0 Cultural Context ............................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Prehistoric Context ........................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 Paleoindian Period (10,000–8000 B.C.) ................................................................ 3-1 3.1.2 Archaic Period (8000–1000 B.C.) ......................................................................... 3-1 3.1.3 Woodland Period (1000 B.C.–A.D. 1600) ............................................................. 3-2 3.1.4 Contact Period ........................................................................................................ 3-3 3.2 Regional Historic Context ............................................................................................. 3-4 3.2.1 Settlement to Society (A.D. 1607–1750) ............................................................... 3-4 3.2.2 Colony to Nation (A.D. 1750–1789) ..................................................................... 3-6 3.2.3 Early National and Antebellum Periods (A.D. 1789–1860) .................................. 3-6 3.2.4 The Civil War (A.D. 1861–1865) .......................................................................... 3-7 3.2.5 Reconstruction and Growth (A.D. 1865–1914) ..................................................... 3-7 3.2.6 WWI to Present (A.D. 1915–Present).................................................................... 3-8 3.3 Project Area History ...................................................................................................... 3-8 3.3.1 1711 King Street Project Area History Scenario A, ca. 1800–1871 ...................... 3-9 3.3.2 1619 King Street Project Area History and 1711 King Street Scenario B History, ca. 1800–1877 .................................................................................................................... 3-18 3.3.3 1619 and 1711 King Street Project Area History, 1870S–Present ....................... 3-21 3.4 Previous Investigations ............................................................................................... 3-34 3.4.1 Previous Cultural Resource Surveys .................................................................... 3-34 3.4.2 Previously Recorded Archaeological Resources ................................................. 3-35 3.4.3 Previously Recorded Above-Ground Resources ................................................. 3-37 4.0 Research Design............................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Methods ......................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2.1 Background Research ............................................................................................ 4-1 4.2.2 Monitoring ............................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2.3 Archaeological Testing .......................................................................................... 4-1 4.2.3.1 Mechanical Trenching .................................................................................... 4-1 4.2.3.2 Hand Survey Testing ...................................................................................... 4-2 4.2.3.3 Feature Excavation ......................................................................................... 4-2 4.2.4 Laboratory Processing ........................................................................................... 4-2 4.3 Built History Summary and Expected Results .............................................................. 4-3 5.0 Results .............................................................................................................................. 5-1 5.1 Monitoring ..................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Trenching ...................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2.1 Trench 1 ................................................................................................................. 5-5 5.2.2 Trench 2 ................................................................................................................. 5-5 5.2.3 Trench 3 ................................................................................................................. 5-5 iii Table of Contents 5.2.4 Trench 4 ................................................................................................................. 5-5 5.2.5 Trench 5 ................................................................................................................. 5-7 5.2.6 Trench 6 ................................................................................................................. 5-7 5.2.7 Trench 7 ................................................................................................................. 5-7 5.2.8 Trench 8 ................................................................................................................. 5-7 5.2.9 Trench 9 ................................................................................................................. 5-7 5.2.10 Trench 10 ............................................................................................................... 5-8 5.2.11 Trench 11 ............................................................................................................... 5-8 5.2.12 Trench 12 ............................................................................................................... 5-8 5.3 Hand Excavation ........................................................................................................... 5-9 5.3.1 Survey and Testing ................................................................................................ 5-9 5.3.2 Feature Excavation............................................................................................... 5-14 5.3.2.1 Feature 1, Trench 8 ....................................................................................... 5-14 5.3.2.2 Feature 2, Trench 12 ..................................................................................... 5-17 5.4 Results Summary........................................................................................................