I can't help on the excavation techniques, but I know that there is a
preserved indoor well in one of the Charleston, SC visitors centers--I
believe it is Historic Charleston's Center.  Martha Zierden at the
Charleston Museum could probably provide information on how it was
preserved.  There is a lexan (I think) cover that allows you to look down
into the well.

  Lucy Wayne


  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "Rotman, Deborah L." <[log in to unmask]>
  To: <[log in to unmask]>
  Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 9:47 AM
  Subject: Working in the well


  Dear Colleagues in Historical Archaeology ~

          I recently received the following request and am seeking advice
  on how to proceed:

  The house was begun 1841 and completed in 1880, expanded and rebuilt
  repeatedly (1812-1898). The house is not open yet. It's in a late stage
  of rehab. Beneath the floor of what will be our modern kitchen (not open
  to regular visitors) is a well, about 30 feet deep, lined with
  limestone. The house sits on a limestone ridge. There is mucky water
  visible in the bottom. We would like to preserve this well in some
  state, have a see-through floor installed above it, some kind of
  lighting, and be able to show it to special guests.

          My questions are these ~

  1- Given the constraints of working inside a building, how does one
  excavate such a deep feature and still meet OSHA requirements?

  2- What designs are recommended for preserving it as proposed?

  My sincerest thanks for your guidance!


  Deborah L. Rotman, Ph.D., RPA
  Assistant Professor
  Department of Sociology and Anthropology
  Purdue University
  700 W. State Street; 316 Stone Hall
  West Lafayette IN  47907-2059
  Phone (765) 494-4683
  Fax (765) 496-1476