Listers:

During a recent Phase II excavation in Dubuque, we examined a feature that
was described as a cistern, however, the artifacts recovered from the
excavation included a large number of barrel hoop fragments as well as a lot
of household trash.  An Internet search turned up a reference to an
excavation in Minnesota where two features with intact barrel hoops were
uncovered.  The interpretation there was that rain barrels had been
partially buried to half their height and besides their original function
had also been used as trash barrels.

My questions:  Has this type of feature been identified at other sites here
in the US? or elsewhere?  How common is this practice?  Is there any ethnic
correlation?  References always welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Donna Stubbs                             HDR Engineering, Inc.
Archaeologist                                6190 Golden Hills Dr.
(763)591-5442                              Minneapolis, MN  55416
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