How did you deal with confined space safety issues? Did you use an entry permit system? Was there any excavation? Just curious? Freight tunnels and changing ground levels are not uncommon in a lot of cities and it seems there must be a fair amount of opportunity for investigation.
Dan Martin

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Holland, Jeff
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 12:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Liverpool's lost Williamson tunnels unearthed

TRC investigated the Selma tunnels in 2004. Nothing as cool as these, but lots of good stories about them, most of which were likely untrue. Tunnels seem like a better subject for folklore than anthropology, but in the case of the Liverpool tunnels, the story about a eccentric man building an underground maze is apparently correct. I'm with Carl that patterns of "eccentric" behavior are just as interesting as patterns of "normal" behavior, and just as important a part of the historical landscape. 

Linda is correct that the arched brick tunnels in Selma (about 4'6" high) seem to date to the 1850s to carry artesian well water to the Alabama River and may have been used as hiding places at various times, but would have been unsuited for smuggling slaves, storing munitions, or transporting wounded soldiers.

The City of Selma may be able to supply a copy of the report.

Jeffrey L. Holland
Senior Historian
TRC