Cody, Please send me some photos off list. I'm going to throw out a few ideas, which is a dangerous thing to do without first seeing the pictures. First, this form sounds very much like typical antebellum structures here in Alabama, only we didn't use bois arc (osage orange). Not surprising, because Texas is where our antebellum settlers were obtaining their osage orange saplings / seeds, so they didn't have big trees that early, or at least not many. (I think bois arc is a native to Texas & maybe part of Arkansas, right?) In Alabama, our structures sat either on brick piers or on "swamp oak" or cedar blocks (a big piece that resembled a cut stump). About the sloped floor: Here, our two room cottages (or two room with central hall) often have a porch attached to them in back, and often part of that porch is enclosed to make a 3rd room. It is a shed room, sometimes called a "parson's cabinet" because that's where they kept the circuit riding preacher when he appeared on their doorstep. Since the porch sloped to the outside, so rain would run off, then this enclosed part of the porch might have a sloped floor also. But you are saying that the slope runs across two rooms, so I suppose we can rule that idea out. Also, what I am finding here in Alabama is that these brick piers or wood blocks seem to have been placed immediately on the ground surface. They didn't dig down to subsoil to create a solid footing. So, if North Texas is prairie, then there would be a lot of movement in that soil so that natural shifting could have created a slope that wasn't originally there right after construction. And here's another thought: are you sure the structure is frame, and not a log cabin just covered later by clapboards? Linda Derry Site Director Old Cahawba 719 Tremont St. Selma, AL 36701 ph. 334/875-2529 fax. 334/877-4253 [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Cody Davis Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2012 3:51 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Bois d'Arc Log Foundation We are currently conducting excavations at a farmstead site here in North Texas around a structure constructed around 1870. The structure associated with this farmstead, was an ell-shaped 3 room house. It utilized bois d'archalf notched logs as the beams for the foundation, and each log was held at the corners with a wood pin through the notches. the logs rest on bois d'arcpiers, and it has a sandstone rock chimney, that was repaired in the early 20th century with brick and eventually phased out for a gas stove. Resting perpendicular to the logs, were joists that were nailed with square-cut nails to the logs. Then tongue and grove floorboards were nailed to the joists with square-cut nails. The structure itself was frame. As of right now we are aware of a second structure that utilized a similar foundation nearby, however they seem to be fairly unique. We were wondering if anyone else has encountered this type of foundation before or maybe able to look as some photos and provide insight. We also had some general questions that pertain to this type foundation, we were hoping some might have some insight on. Would a frame house sitting on the above described foundation expected to have a level foundation? This foundation drops 10 cm from the NE corner of one room to the SE corner of the adjacent room. We have some ideas and additional questions, and we would be happy to share some photos in a pdf, off list with anyone who might have some insight into some of the questions we have about the foundation. Thanks. -- Cody S. Davis, RPA Project Manager AR Consultants, Inc. 805 Business Parkway Richardson, TX 75081 214.368.0478 (office) 214.221.1519 (fax) www.arc-digs.com *This electronic message transmission and any documents, files, graphics, or previous e-mail messages attached to it may contain information that may be legally confidential and/or privileged. The information is intended solely for the individual(s) or entity(s) named above and access by disclosure, copying, distribution, or other use of the contents of this message is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please reply immediately to the sender pointing out the error, and delete the message. This message may also contain personal opinions of the author.*