HISTARCHers:
I agree with Rob Burnett about pushing the explanations about sub-floor
deposits too far. That said, I always try to explain the phenomenon myself,
coming up with a different hypothesis each time (usually hypotheses). The
latest (you folks will be tired of my saloon by the time the report's
published and will know so much about it you won't need the report) is the
Mascot Saloon in Skagway, Alaska (1897-1904). Tons of stuff under the
saloon, after it was built in 1898. Explanations:
1) Early floor had big cracks between floor boards so they wouldn't have to
sweep the sawdust out the door. Evidence: sawdust, lots of coins and poker
chips, broken glass, peanut and other nut hulls.
2) When they cleaned up the yard, they deliberately shoved the junk under
the building. Evidence: Trash was denser at the edges than in the middle.
3) Periodic flooding brought sheet trash from the perimeter under the
building. Known floods and high tides in 1897, 1901, and 1904 came above
the elevation of the outside surface. Some silt deposits remained under
the building. The artifacts, particularly glass, would settle out before
silt. A natural drainage pattern existed under the building, although a
mound at one place would have allowed for the trapping of some artifacts,
especially, the larger, heavier glass items.
4) A cluster of a dozen broken Jesse Moore-Hunt bourbon bottles under the
building, but near the back may indicate a deliberate destruction of a
crate of bottles prior to a customs raid in 1898 before the sale of liquor
was legal.
All of this I took into consideration when doing my functional and spatial
analyses. Hence the need to consider the reasons for why the stuff was
there.
If you're in York in January, come hear my paper on the Mascot (Jeez, she's
shameless, isn't she?). You folks just gave me something else to talk
about.
Cathy
Catherine Holder Spude ¨ Archeologist ¨ Cultural Resources Management ¨
National Park Service – Intermountain Region ¨ 505.988.6831Voice ¨
505.988.6876 Fax
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American
people so that all may experience our heritage.
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