THE LIFE OF A POTTER, ANDREW PITMAN Archaeological Evaluation of the Andrew Pitman Site (44FK528), Stephens City, Virginia Research Report Series No. 11 2001 Virginia Department of Historic Resources 2801 Kensington Avenue Richmond, VA 23221 THE LIFE OF A POTTER, ANDREW PITMAN Archaeological Evaluation of the Andrew Pitman Site (44FK528), Stephens City, Virginia Virginia Department of Historic Resources Research Report Series No. 11 Prepared by: William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research Department of Anthropology The College of William and Mary Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8795 Project Director: Dennis B. Blanton Authors: Sunyoon Park with contributions by: Matthew Laird Beverly Straube Gregory J. Brown 2001 i ABSTRACT The William and Mary Center for Archaeological Re- mately 27 ft. north-south × 18 ft. east-west and along search conducted a thorough analysis of the artifact the southern boundary of the lot, in an area measuring assemblage recovered by the James River Institute for 13 ft. north-south × 24 ft. east-west. The archaeological Archaeology and the Northern Shenandoah Chapter of investigation included eight shovel tests and eight test the Archeological Society of Virginia in 1996. The pur- units, exposing a total surface area of approximately pose of this study was to provide a better understanding 164 ft.2. An exhaustive analysis of the impressive local of the pre-industrial manufacturing activities of a pot- earthenware assemblage was conducted including a ter, Andrew Pitman, during the last quarter of the minimum vessel count and an attribute analysis of the eighteenth and first half of the nineteenth centuries. The local earthenware waster sherds within the stratigraphic Pitman house is located within the Newtown- context. This was carried out in order to investigate Stephensburg Historic District at 5415 Main Street in whether any consistent changes or patterns in pottery Stephens City, Virginia. Excavations were conducted production occurred over time. on the rear yard space of the house, measuring approxi- ii CONTENTS Abstract .................................................................................................................................... ii Contents .................................................................................................................................. iii Figures .....................................................................................................................................iv Tables ........................................................................................................................................ v 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Sunyoon Park 2 Research Design and Methods ................................................................................................. 5 Sunyoon Park 3 Historical Context .................................................................................................................... 9 Sunyoon Park, Matthew Laird, and Beverly Straube 4 Results of Investigations: Site Structure ................................................................................ 19 Matthew Laird 5 Results of Investigations: Ceramic Analysis ......................................................................... 29 Sunyoon Park 6 Research Summary and Conclusions ..................................................................................... 55 Sunyoon Park References Cited .................................................................................................................... 59 Appendix A: Artifact Inventory Appendix B: Faunal Analysis (Gregory J. Brown) Appendix C: Attribute Analysis Inventory for Test Unit 200 iii FIGURES 1 Location of Pitman House (Site 44FK528) ............................................................................. 2 2 Location of Pitman House (Site 44FK528) in Newtown- Stephensburg Historic District, Stephens City, Virginia ....................................................... 3 3 Andrew Pitman House, 5415 Main Street, Stephens City, Virginia........................................ 4 4 Site 44FK528, plan showing test units after removal of Layer A ........................................... 6 5 Plat of town lots in Stephensburg, Virginia, ca. 1830 ........................................................... 11 6 Newtown-Stephensburg in 1885............................................................................................ 13 7 Pounds of red lead sold to Andrew Pitman by Godfrey Miller in 1809–1813 and 1816 ......................................................................... 14 8 Value of local earthenware exchanged for goods during 1809–1813 and 1816 ................... 14 9 Andrew Pitman House, rear elevation and yard .................................................................... 20 10 Site 44FK528, rear (west) yard .............................................................................................. 20 11 Site 44FK528, Shovel Tests 100, 102, 103, 104, profiles ..................................................... 21 12 Site 44FK528, exterior (possible kitchen) hearth, west gable ............................................... 21 13 Site 44FK528, Shovel Tests 101, 105, 106, 107, profiles ..................................................... 22 14 Site 44FK528, oblique view of rear (west) yard.................................................................... 22 15 Site 44FK528, excavations of Test Units 200, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, and 207 ................ 23 16 Site 44FK528, Test Unit 200, west profile ............................................................................ 24 17 Site 44FK528, Pitman earthenware sherds exposed in Test Unit 200, Layer D ................... 25 18 Site 44FK528, Test Units 201 and 202, after removal of Layer B, plan ............................... 25 19 Site 44FK528, Test Unit 202, south profile ........................................................................... 26 20 Site 44FK528, Feature 5A/B, plan and profile ...................................................................... 27 21 Vessel base showing fingerprints left from handling with glaze-covered hands .................. 32 22 Identified local earthenware vessel forms and objects from 44FK528 ................................. 33 23 Vessel profiles of saucer, pan, and dish ................................................................................. 33 24 Selected rim and base types ...................................................................................................34 25 Profiles of selected rim types ................................................................................................. 35 26 Square-everted crock rim with folded shoulder and rounded rolled crock rim..................... 37 27 Exterior of crock exhibiting horizontal and curvilinear tool grooves ................................... 37 28 Exterior of crock with beaded base ....................................................................................... 38 29 Small crock exhibiting square-everted rim with folded shoulder and beaded base .............. 38 30 Tribeaded pan rim and rounded rolled pan rim ..................................................................... 39 31 Pan profile with tribeaded rim ............................................................................................... 39 32 Pan rim with pouring spout ....................................................................................................39 33 Dish bases with slip-decorated interiors ................................................................................ 39 34 Five of Pitman’s white and black slip-decorated dish types .................................................. 40 35 Green slip-decorated dishes ...................................................................................................40 36 Dishes with crimped rim ........................................................................................................ 41 37 Chamber pot rims and handle ................................................................................................ 41 38 Strap handle exhibiting three thumb impressions .................................................................. 42 39 Large jug with bulbous body, evidence of constricted neck, strap handle, and beaded base.................................................................. 42 40 Mouth and neck fragments from jug and green-glazed reed tobacco pipe ........................... 42 41 Small mended jug with bulbous body, constricted neck, and beaded base ........................... 43 42 Cups and intertwined strap handle ......................................................................................... 44 43 Interior of saucer .................................................................................................................... 44 44 Exterior of saucer ................................................................................................................... 45 45 Unglazed lid with knob .......................................................................................................... 45 46 Slip-decorated knob of lid ..................................................................................................... 45 iv 47 Kiln tile fragments 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