While I have never excavated under a house, I did termite work to pay for my MA. I have been under a few thousand houses. I have seen ceramics, slate, spoons and forks under some of the historic houses in downtown Savannah. So I offer this.

Depending on how much space you have you will need a variety of tools.

A dust mask is the most important. Some houses are very dry underneath and a slight movement will kick up a lot of dust.  Some houses are damp underneath and then you have mold. Jump suits for working in really help. Crawling around on your belly tends to put dirt in strange places.

If the house is really low you may have to tunnel around. air conditioning ducts and pipes have to be tunneled under.  You can not crawl over them as they will break.  Be careful tunneling you my get stuck from time to time (I have).

Small army shovels work well in confined spaces.

If you remove a lot of dirt you may also need to add extra support to the house.

You will also need lots of light. Large flash lights work well but you can also string work lights.

People working under a house also need more breaks. Having spent a full 8hrs under a house I can say that after a while things do close in.



Finally as always consult OSHA begs.  You will be in a  confined work space.

Dan Hughes

-- Carl Steen <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
In a message dated 4/30/2004 7:25:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:
Dan and Fellow HistArchers:
In excavating a 9 ft deep cellar beneath the kitchen ell of a country house
built between 1729 and 1740, we encountered an oval pit, about 4 ft and 3 ft
along its major and minor axes, in the floor of the cellar. It yielded the
remains, largely reconstructable, of nearly two dozen early 19th century wine
bottles. I did not expect to find a pit of uncertain function in the floor of a
cellar. Our work had focused on identifying and sampling deposits formed during
the use of the cellar prior to its having been abandoned and filled with
demolition debris.

As for hazards, moldering plaster and highly unstable brick walls posed
hazards.

Jim Gibb
Annapolis, MD  USA

----- Original Message -----
From: Daniel H. Weiskotten
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2004 10:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Underhouse Archaeology

A few days ago I had the pleasure to visit Charles Pinckney National
Historic Site at Snee Farm northeast of Charleston, SC.  I was impressed at
the use of archaeology to tell the story of the plantation during
Pinckney's time, a necessity because none of Pinckney's buildings remain.

http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/chpi/index.htm

I was quite interested in the "underhouse" excavations as I have one site
that lies under an existing building and I have another building that has
been tested all around, but not under (although a mass of late 18th century
wine bottle fragments were found in the 1980s while enlarging the stairs to
the 20th century furnace room).

What guidelines, techniques, clothing, dust masks, health issues, words of
wisdom, etc., do listers have to share?

I am well aware of black widows!

        Dan W.
Gee Dan - while you were in Charleston you should have visited Martha Zierden
who, as we speak, is excavating in the basement of the Charleston Town Hall.
I agree with Amy Koval that lighting is very important. Dust and contaminants
can be a problem, but compared to access and suitable room to work, a minor
one. A water sprayer can be employed to keep the dust under control, and
screening can be taken outside... Hey Amy and Bennie - when are we going to see a
report on Snee Farm? Excavations were done what, 1992? CS


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