I would probably call the smoke flume area a feature, but not necessarily
midden.  My concern is that we are labelling the midden prior to any
scientific investigations and continue to call deposits (natural or
cultural) midden when there is no real justification.  I know each site
will be different, but shouldn't we try to be more consistent?  I'm still
working on it ... 

Jeanette


> [Original Message]
> From: Ron May <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 3/21/2007 4:27:00 PM
> Subject: Re: Midden
>
> But you have to be careful before you dismiss a deposit as non-cultural  
> simply because it lacks artifacts. A case in point, a consultant
conducted  
> mechanical trenching and about a dozen meter square test pits in the
lawns and  
> parking lots between the U.S. Coast Guard Station, Ballast Point, in
1987. He  
> found 50 centimeters of black oily soil on top of a natural cobblestone 
layer 
> and was flummoxed by the lack of artifacts. My crew revisited the area in
1988 
> and opened large block excavation areas. We found he dug in the smoke 
plume 
> drop area to one side of the 1868-1873 whale oil rendering  tryworks
oven. We 
> found the entire oven foundation with two firepits caked with  burned
whale 
> blubber (aka "crackling" or "whale fritters") and a  floor made from
salvaged 
> 18th century Spanish tile. Sample size led to  misinterpretation of the
sample 
> meaning.
>  
> Ron May
> Legacy 106, Inc.
>
>
>
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