The University of Delaware Center for Archaeological research excavated a
mid to late 19th C. rural free black house set on wooden piers in New
Castle Co., Delaware.  At one corner of the house just below the plowzone
( the whole site had been plowed) we excavated an iron barrel hoop
surounding rotted wood and filled with lime.  The PZ was about 10 inches
so the bottom of the barrel could have been set about a foot below
surface.  This would have made the barrel very stable.  Because of it's
very close proximity and location (at the corner) it was interpreted as a
rain barrel.  The lime might have been added to help seal the bottom of
the barrel.
        Most of the photos I have seen of rain barrels show them at the
corrner of houses.  I never noted if they were set on ground level or
slightly resesed/burried.
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| Keith R Doms                       University of Delaware  |
| 011 Munroe Hall                     Dept. of Anthropology  |
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