A great, great resource on all things Log Cabin is Terry Jordan's "Texas
Log Buildings". 

I have not excavated any cabins, but have recorded a substantial number
of standing cabins here in Colorado dating back to the mid-19th century
and I have noted many with stone, and sometimes brick masonry pilings
and sill walls. As a general statement these type definitely correlated
with developments in industry in the area and the availability of those
materials. In other words, did not appear to be culturally/etnically
related. I'll see if I can dig up some specifics.

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Linda Derry
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 8:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Question about Log cabins

Here's a question to those of you that have excavated remains of early
log
cabins.  Has anyone discovered one that sat atop a full brick foundation
or
one with a brick floor? If so, I'd like to hear the details.

Of course some must have sat directly on the ground, but what is the
range
of possibilities for foundations for log cabins?   And the same question
for
flooring in log cabins.  I've seen reference to puncheon floors in
documents, but what about brick. 

I'm working on early 19th century sites in the southeastern U.S.  I'm
working on a town site that had a brick yard before it had any saw
mills,
and initially it was settled before steamboats were running so
clapboards,
etc. were very hard to obtain in the early years. 


Linda Derry
Site Director
Old Cahawba
719 Tremont St.
Selma, AL 36701
ph. 334/875-2529
fax. 334/877-4253
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