Archaeological Treatment Plan for Site 44LD1551

at the Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park

Loudoun County, Virginia

DHR File No. 2009-0883

May 2014

Prepared for: HGA

44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 100 Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Prepared by:

Matthew R. Laird, Ph.D., RPA 223 McLaws Circle, Suite 1 Williamsburg, VA 23185

757-229-9485www.jriarchaeology.com

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... iii 1. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 1 2. PREVIOUS RESEARCH ............................................................................................. 5 

Phase I ......................................................................................................................... 5 Phase II ........................................................................................................................ 5 

3. PROPOSED SITE IMPACTS ..................................................................................... 9 4. ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH DESIGN ........................................................ 13 5. SITE PROTECTION PROTOCOLS AND MITIGATION OF ADVERSE

EFFECTS .................................................................................................................... 15 6. ARCHAEOLOGICAL TESTING METHODS ....................................................... 17 7. DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING ................................................................... 19 8. PERMANENT CURATION OF PROJECT MATERIALS................................... 21 9. UNEXPECTED DISCOVERIES .............................................................................. 22 10. PUBLIC DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION .............................................. 23 11. PROJECT SCHEDULE ........................................................................................... 24 12. REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 25 ATTACHMENT A.......................................................................................................... 26 ATTACHMENT B .......................................................................................................... 28 ATTACHMENT C.......................................................................................................... 30 ATTACHMENT D.......................................................................................................... 32 

iii

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Location of Site 44LD1551 on detail of U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Arcola topographic quadrangle map, 1981. ....................................................................................... 2 

Figure 2. Location of Site 44LD1551 on a 2011 aerial photograph. ................................. 3 Figure 3. Location of shovel tests, Site 44LD1551. .......................................................... 6 Figure 4. Location of shovel tests and test units, Site 44LD1551. .................................... 7 

1

1. INTRODUCTION

In 2009, archaeologists of the James River Institute for Archaeology, Inc. (JRIA) completed a Phase I archaeological survey of approximately 257 acres at the Hanson Property in Loudoun County, as well as a reconnaissance level architectural survey of the extant Lee-Hanson House (DHR ID# 053-0892). Based on the results of the archaeological survey, which included both shovel testing and surface collection of recently harvested sod fields, JRIA identified nine archaeological sites throughout the property, including Site 44LD1551, which evidently represented the archaeological component of the extant Lee-Hanson House (Figures 1-2). As a result of the Phase I survey, JRIA recommended that Site 44LD1551 was potentially eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (National Register) under Criterion D (has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history), and contributed to the National Register eligibility of the Lee-Hanson House. Loudoun County and the Department of Historic Resources (DHR) subsequently concurred with this recommendation.

In order to assist with the master planning process for the Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, JRIA returned in the spring of 2012 to conduct more intensive Phase II archaeological investigations of five sites, including Site 44LD1551, which had been determined to be potentially eligible for inclusion in the National Register. Based on the results of this more intensive archaeological testing, JRIA recommended that Site 44LD1551 should be considered eligible for inclusion in the National Register under Criterion D, and that it contributed to the National Register eligibility of the Lee-Hanson House. Loudoun County and DHR reviewed the results of the Phase II investigation, and concurred that Site 44LD1551 is eligible for inclusion in the National Register under Criterion D.

As summarized by Dr. Ethel Eaton of DHR in a letter to the Loudoun County Department of Planning dated 29 July 2013:

As the single eligible archaeological site on the Hanson Property, and one that has the demonstrated potential to provide information important to our understanding of the development of this rare surviving farmstead from the late 18th century through the mid twentieth century, Site 44LD1551 is worthy of preservation. It is likely that any ground disturbance within the boundaries of Site 44LD1551 as defined by the Phase II survey will have an adverse effect on intact levels and features of this site, and so constitute an adverse effect. . . . If avoidance of this eligible site is not possible, a treatment plan should be developed to avoid, minimize or mitigate the adverse effects of the proposed action. According to restriction #4 of the 2011 Release and Transfer, the treatment plan must be approved in writing by the Loudoun County archaeologist and DHR prior to implementation.

While park planners have attempted to minimize any adverse effects to Site

44LD1551, including the relocation of the park office building to a more remote location

2

Figure 1. Location of Site 44LD1551 on detail of U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Arcola topographic quadrangle map, 1981.

3

Figure 2. Location of Site 44LD1551 on a 2011 aerial photograph.

4

removed from the site area, the current park plan includes a number of development activities which will occur within the site limits, some of which have the potential to cause adverse effects to archaeological resources. These include the removal of existing secondary structures and minimal landscaping efforts; future planned improvements to Evergreen Mills Road (State Route 621); construction of the primary park access road along the eastern edge of the site and a parking area to the north; and potential below-ground utility installation associated with the rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of the extant Lee-Hanson House.

JRIA has prepared this treatment plan for review and comment by Loudoun County and DHR in order to establish a comprehensive process for protecting Site 44LD1551 to the greatest extent possible during the park development, and for mitigating any adverse effects to the resource which cannot be avoided. The treatment plan summarizes the results of previous investigations at Site 44LD1551; provides an overall research design for future archaeological testing; details specific protocols to be followed for protecting the site; addresses the elements of the park development plan which will require additional archaeological testing and/or data recovery; outlines the methodology for further archaeological investigations; and offers recommendations for the public dissemination of project information, and the permanent curation of artifacts and other materials.

5

2. PREVIOUS RESEARCH

Phase I Site 44LD1551 was first identified by JRIA in 2009 through the excavation of 83

screened shovel tests excavated at 50-foot intervals, of which 26 were positive for cultural remains. The site encompassed the yard surrounding the Lee-Hanson House and outbuildings (053-0892), and was found to measure 325 feet by 350 feet (Zawacki et al. 2010).

Artifacts retrieved from the Phase I survey included 92.7 grams of brick, unidentified bone fragments, oyster shell and bog iron, and 128 additional artifacts, including 46 ceramics (36 percent), 56 synthetic (44 percent), metal (18 percent), 1 faunal (1 percent), and 2 lithic (1 percent) materials (Figure 20). The material classified as synthetic was predominantly glass, with only one synthetic plastic fragment recovered. Of the 46 ceramics, two were identified as skeet shot fragments and the remaining were sherds of ceramic vessels. Locally-produced coarse earthenware sherds formed the majority (28.26 percent) of the ceramic sherds, along with smaller amounts of whiteware, ironstone, Albany slip and Bristol-glazed stoneware, and one sherd of pearlware. The glass fragments included window glass, mirror and aqua bottle glass common in the mid-to-late nineteenth century, along with solarized glass from the 1880s. Overall, the assemblage suggests an occupation spanning the second half of the nineteenth century through the twentieth century, encompassing the Lee and Hanson occupations. However, the artifact assemblage included a handful of eighteenth-century objects which clearly predated the house.

Given the strong subsurface integrity and presence of artifacts associated with the occupation of the house, it appeared that further archaeological research at the site offered the potential to provide a fuller understanding of rural domestic life on a middling farmstead in post-Civil War Loudoun County. JRIA therefore recommended that this site was potentially eligible for listing in the National Register under Criterion D. Loudoun County and the Department of Historic Resources (DHR) subsequently concurred with this recommendation.

Phase II In the course of the Phase II investigation completed in the summer of 2012, JRIA

archaeologists excavated an additional 237 shovel tests at 25-foot intervals across the site area, which defined the site limits as measuring approximately 420 feet (N-S) by 370 feet (E-W) (Figures 3-4) (Laird et al. 2012). Of the 237 shovel tests excavated, 88 (37.1 percent) were positive, yielding cultural materials. Ceramics included coarse earthenwares, pearlware, whiteware, yellowware, Rockingham/Bennington stoneware, Albany slip stoneware, American blue and gray stoneware, and Bristol glazed stoneware. Other domestic materials included a variety of different types of bottle glass, lamp glass, and other glass hollowware forms; animal bone; oyster shell; and assorted personal items, including a Union Army coat or jacket button. Architectural materials included brick and mortar fragments, cut and wire nails, and miscellaneous metal hardware. As expected,

6

Figure 3. Location of shovel tests, Site 44LD1551.

7

Figure 4. Location of shovel tests and test units, Site 44LD1551.

8

the greatest concentration of artifacts was found in the immediate rear (north) yard of the house, where household refuse most likely was discarded.

Shovel testing indicated that soils within the vicinity of the Lee-Hanson House were relatively intact, with the typical soil profile consisting of variations of brown (10YR) silty loam topsoil (Layer A) to a depth of approximately 0.7 foot; and a transitional Layer B of mottled silty clay sealing sterile subsoil.

Once the shovel testing had been completed, testing continued with the excavation of 16 three-foot-square test units in an effort to better evaluate the integrity of the site soils and to identify potential subsurface cultural features (see Figure 4). The units were situated within artifact concentrations identified by shovel testing, as well in locations where potential outbuildings could be expected. Finally, one unit was excavated adjacent to the house foundation in order to determine the potential presence of an associated builder’s trench feature.

In total, the excavation of 237 close-interval shovel tests and 16 test units at Site 44LD1551 yielded a large and diverse assemblage of 4,095 artifacts representing a span of occupation from some time in the first half of the nineteenth century through the twentieth century. A negligible prehistoric Native American site component was represented by two quartz projectile points (one identifiable as Late Archaic) and a piece of quartzite debitage. The overall integrity of the site was good, with very little obvious disturbance, and evidence of up to three distinct topsoil horizons throughout the houselot, all of which yielded historic artifacts. In analyzing the significant concentration of artifacts within the houselot, it appeared likely that at least a portion of the assemblage predated the occupation of the extant Lee-Hanson house, and suggested that the house may have had an earlier component, or that the site was occupied prior to its construction. Test unit excavation throughout the yard area confirmed the overall level of site integrity, and indicated the presence of up to three distinct cultural horizons. Several subsurface cultural features were identified, including postholes, early twentieth-century water lines, and a section of builder’s trench associated with the construction of Lee-Hanson house.

Given the potential of further archaeological investigation at Site 44LD1551 to address a variety of salient research questions associated with the extant Lee-Hanson House (DHR ID# 053-0892), JRIA recommended that the archaeological component contributes to the National Register eligibility of this resource, and that Site 44LD1551 is eligible for inclusion in the National Register under Criterion D. Loudoun County and the Department of Historic Resources (DHR) subsequently concurred with this recommendation.

9

3. PROPOSED SITE IMPACTS

The following description of the proposed park development impacts to Site 44LD1551 was provided by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

The ultimate development of the Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park will require some land disturbance adjacent to and within the limits of Site 44LD1551, which encompasses the existing Lee-Hanson house and surrounding grounds. Since the commencement of work on the project in Fall 2011, the organization of the various park elements has evolved considerably from initial conceptual diagrammatic plans to the current layout (see attachments A and B). During the entire design process, which involved soliciting feedback from citizens and Loudoun County Department of Planning staff review, the layout has been revised to minimize impacts to the existing resources within the archaeological site limits.

The following is a description of the various elements of work that may occur within the limits of Site 44LD1551, and justification for why these limited areas of disturbance are necessary in order to develop the regional park, yet still represent the most feasible option that will minimize disturbance to the existing historic resources.

Demolition/Site Clearing The three existing accessory structures (two garages and a chicken coop) located

within the limits of Site 44LD1551 will be disassembled and removed from the site. The existing floor slabs will remain.

The existing trees within the archaeological site limits will be evaluated by the project arborist and the Loudoun County urban forester to determine which trees are dead, in serious decline, or pose a hazard. Based on the results of this evaluation, certain trees may be designated for removal, while the existing boxwoods and other understory vegetation that are in good health will remain.

Evergreen Mills Road

Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621) is an existing 2-lane roadway with 60’ right of way (ROW). The County Transportation Plan proposes expansion to a 4-lane divided roadway (120’ ROW). This roadway will provide an important segment to complete the transportation network.

An initial road design layout for the ultimate 120’ wide ROW (prepared by Urban, Ltd. for the Brambleton Group) assumed an alignment with a majority of the new road to be located north of the existing roadway in an effort to avoid the existing pond on the south side of the road. This alignment assumed almost a full 60’ ROW dedication on the north side of the road in lieu of the typical 30’ if the dedication were evenly contributed by both properties abutting the road. While this alignment would allow for a more economical roadway by avoiding the pond, it also located the ROW just beyond the southeast corner of the Lee-Hanson house.

10

The Grange at Willowsford - Section 1A [CPAP 2010-0057], the residential community on the south side of Evergreen Mills opposite the Hanson house, was approved in January 2011. These plans provided a 90’ ROW reservation from the existing Evergreen Mills Road centerline in lieu of a 60’ reservation (30’ dedication from existing ROW) that would be typically be required. This additional reservation area was provided with the assumption that the ultimate roadway design would be shifted further to the south to minimize impacts to the Lee-Hanson house.

The Special Exception to Permitted Zoning (SPEX) plan shows an assumed ultimate ROW for Evergreen Mills Road that is aligned with the reservation area provided by The Grange at Willowsford community. This proposed ROW ties into the reservation area to the west of Founders Drive and cannot be shifted any further south without impacting existing trails, forest and open space areas approved with The Grange. The existing pond on the south side of Evergreen Mills Road is also a limiting factor given the presence of existing wetlands that would be significantly impacted by the road construction. Future disturbance adjacent to the northern limits of the ROW may be mitigated with final roadway design with the addition of retaining walls.

The design team contends that the current 120’ wide ROW alignment is coordinated with the approved plans for the adjacent development; it is located as far to the south as possible, maximizing the setback from the northern ROW and the Lee-Hanson House, and reducing the impact on the viewhed. Locating the ROW further to the south cannot be accomplished without requiring additional dedication of land from The Grange and/or significant disturbance to the existing pond and associated environmental resources. Refer to Attachment D for additional information showing the original and current alignments.

Primary Park Access The proposed entrance to the park is located opposite the existing Founders Drive

intersection. This entrance will ultimately include a signal and will be designed in conformance with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Road Design Manual – Access Management Requirements whose standards ensure that the safety, integrity and operational characteristics of the transportation system are maintained. VDOT will require that the centerline of the proposed park entrance be perpendicular to Evergreen Mills Road and aligned with the existing Founders Drive centerline. Offsetting the centerlines to shift the entrance road to the east would effectively create two intersections, and likely would have a negative impact on traffic safety.

The proposed entrance will be approximately 40’ wide (curb to curb) to allow for three lanes (one entrance/two exit) given the anticipated traffic volumes associated with the regional park use. The grade at the existing intersection is lower than the park site and a small section of the proposed access drive that encroaches on the limits of the archaeological site will require land disturbance. The proposed access drive in this section will be curb and gutter with approximately 15” of pavement base material for structural support. Future disturbance adjacent to the western side of the entrance road will be minimized with final engineering design to tie off grades near the edge of roadway and locate pedestrian trail/walk on the eastern side of the roadway.

11

In consultation with VDOT, the design team has determined that the current location of the entrance road must align with the existing Founders Drive centerline. The current entrance road has been designed to bend to the east after entering the park to minimize disturbance within the limits of Site 44LD1551. Relocating the entrance drive further to the east cannot be accomplished without a design waiver from VDOT. Refer to Attachments A and B for additional information showing the current entrance road and assumed limits of disturbance.

Parking Areas

The approved Master Plan proposed a parking area south of the two large rectangular fields. This parking area was intended to serve the Park Office Building, picnic pavilions and the recreation fields. The original limits of this parking area, and the Park Office Building, encroached within the limits of Site 44LD1551.

The current plan has been revised to eliminate the westernmost parking bay, eliminate all parking spaces within the limits of Site 44LD1551, and to relocate the Park Office Building approximately 300’ to the east. A portion of the perimeter drive aisle in the parking area will impact the archaeological site. The access drive will be constructed of asphalt pavement with approximately 12” of base material on compacted existing soils. It will likely be necessary to remove the existing topsoil to provide structurally suitable soil beneath pavement sections. Future disturbance adjacent to the southern side of the parking access aisle road will be minimized with final engineering design to tie off grades near the edge of roadway.

With consultation from the Loudoun County urban forester, existing hedgerows and individual trees located at the periphery of Site 44LD1551 may be preserved to provide additional screening of views from the grounds behind the house towards the concession building and Park Office Building. Refer to attachment C for sight line section.

Light poles may be provided along the perimeter of the parking area and access drive to facilitate safe use at night. Poles are typically installed on 12” diameter / 36” deep concrete footers. Power for the light poles will be open trenched approximately 36” in width and 36” below finished grade. Poles may be located on the interior side of the parking area to minimize disturbance within Site 44LD1551.

The design team contends that the current location of the parking access aisle is necessary to maintain a functional circulation system for the fields. Refer to attachments A and B for additional information showing the current parking area and assumed limits of disturbance.

Utilities The Lee-Hanson house will be used for activities associated with the park, though

the programming for the house remains to be determined. It is anticipated that the renovations to the existing house will require water and sanitary sewer, so potential stubs for both have been provided in the parking area to the north of the house and in the entrance access drive. Use of the stubs in the entrance drive to the east of the house is

12

preferred, as the shorter distance between the stubs and house, and the avoidance of the main historic activity area north of the house, will result in a reduced archaeological impact to Site 44LD1551.

The Lee-Hanson House will be served by Loudoun Water Municipal Water and Sewer service. The utility laterals that will be extended to the house are estimated to be approximately 3’-4’ below finished grade with a trench section of 48”-60” wide for each installation. The depth for both water and sewer lines are required to be below frost depth and, because of servicing requirements, cannot be installed over one another. To the extent possible, the width of the utility trenches will be minimized to reduce impacts to the archaeological site.

The design team has considered the possibility of using a directional bore to install the laterals. While the bore would minimize disturbance to potential archaeological deposits and subsurface features in the open yard between the stubs and the house, this option has two distinct drawbacks. First, the receiving end of the laterals at the house would require a more intrusive excavation adjacent to the foundation to receive the lateral and make connection. Second, any future maintenance on the lateral would require excavation from above, which potentially would cause an even greater impact to the archaeological site. As a result, the design team contends that the proposed locations for the utility stubs provide adequate flexibility at final design to select a preferred alignment that will minimize impacts to Site 44LD1551.

13

4. ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH DESIGN

Since Charles Fairbanks’ pioneering work in the late 1970s, the houselot has offered historical archaeologists a manageable conceptual unit for analyzing the material remains of human behavior. In this case, the assumption is that the artifacts excavated from primary deposits in a defined house yard were deposited by the residents of the houselot, the same individuals who controlled the yard space and artifact deposition. The upshot is that artifacts “represent the combined acquisition and deposition behaviors of all residents in a house structure” over time (Spencer-Wood and Heberling 1987: 2). Beaudry (1986), however, has cautioned historical archaeologists against the “Pompeii premise,” or the presumption that archaeological features and artifacts associated with a houselot can be attributed with certainty to any given group of residents over time. In many cases multiple, consecutive occupations of houselots have blurred the lines between those who lived there, confusing any straightforward association between chronology, material culture, and behavior. The first task of the historical archaeologist, therefore, must be to sort out these relationships.

In analyzing the significant concentration of artifacts within the houselot, it appears likely that at least a portion of the assemblage predates the occupation of the extant Lee-Hanson house, and suggests that the house may have had an earlier component, or that the site was occupied prior to its construction. Taking into account the results of the Phase II investigation, it is evident that the site can sustain additional archaeological research, offering the potential to supplement the historical and architectural understanding of this relatively rare surviving nineteenth-century Loudoun County farmstead.

Focused testing around the dwelling could help to clarify its initial construction date and when it may have been modified, while broader testing within the associated houselot might provide a clearer picture of when and how the site may have been used in the pre-1870 period. Examination of the Phase I and Phase II testing results indicates that the area to the north of the house, in particular, was a principal activity area during the historic occupation of the property, and is likely to contain archaeological evidence of primary outbuildings and refuse deposits. The areas along the eastern and northern periphery of the site are characterized by significantly lower concentrations of artifacts in the overburden, suggesting that these areas were not intensively inhabited or otherwise used during the site’s span of occupation. Even so, the outer portions of Site 44LD1551 may still include other types of archaeological features which could contribute to a better understanding of the overall layout and functioning of the farmstead. Such features could include boundary fences and/or ditches demarcating the occupied houselot from the surrounding agricultural fields and livestock grazing areas, and possibly the remains of more modest utilitarian outbuildings such as sheds or barns not manifested by significant artifact concentrations.

In summary, further intensive archaeological investigation offers the opportunity to reconstruct the historic landscape of the nineteenth-century houselot, and to provide deeper insight into how this rural farmstead evolved as it continued to be occupied into

14

the twentieth century. This specific information could then be integrated with the results of archaeological, architectural, and historic landscape studies of comparable northern Virginia properties in an effort to more broadly understand how rural properties in this region adapted in response to a variety of external forces, including the shifting agricultural economy; improvements in transportation networks and widening markets, both for farm products and consumer goods; and the disjunction of agricultural labor patterns following the abolition of slavery.

15

5. SITE PROTECTION PROTOCOLS AND MITIGATION OF ADVERSE EFFECTS

The following section provides a description of the general and specific protocols

which will be followed during park development to avoid, minimize, and —if necessary—mitigate any adverse effects to Site 44LD1551. The overall goal of these protocols is to limit ground-disturbing activities to the greatest extent possible within the archaeological site limits; to provide the opportunity for further archaeological testing to assist in avoiding significant archaeological deposits and features, where possible; and to allow for archaeological data recovery in those site areas where impacts cannot be avoided.

Demolition/Site Clearing

The three existing accessory structures (two garages and a chicken coop) located within the limits of Site 44LD1551 will be disassembled and removed from the site, but the existing floor slabs will be preserved in place. As with all work that will be performed within the defined archaeological site limits, the removal of the structures will be completed without the use of heavy equipment and any vehicular access within the zone will be restricted to light commercial vehicles with the use of appropriate construction mats to minimize soil compaction. The storage of equipment, materials, chemicals, stockpiled soils, and debris will not be permitted within the archaeological site limits.

All trees designated for removal will be cut using a chainsaw and lifted from the site. There will be no skidding of trees through the site area. Stumps will be cut close to grade and left in place.

Any additional landscaping activities involving the installation or removal of trees within the archaeological site limits will be evaluated by the Loudoun County Archaeologist to determine the potential for impacts to significant archaeological deposits and/or subsurface features. Any such impacts will be preceded by a phased program of archaeological testing as described in Section 6.

Evergreen Mills Road

Given the proximity of the proposed Evergreen Mills Road improvements to the Lee-Hanson House, there is a high potential that significant archaeological deposits and subsurface cultural features associated with the historic occupation of the property will be impacted by road construction. All areas of ground-disturbance associated with the road improvements within the limits of Site 44LD1551 will be subjected to archaeological data recovery as described in Section 6 prior to the initiation of construction activities.

Primary Park Access/Parking Areas

All areas of proposed ground disturbance associated with the primary park access and parking areas within Site 44LD1551, including the locations of the light poles should they be situated beyond the parking area, will be subjected to archaeological data recovery as described in Section 6 prior to the initiation of construction activities.

16

Utilities Excavation of trenches for proposed utilities within the limits of Site 44LD1551

will be preceded by a phased program of archaeological testing as described in Section 6, with the goal of avoiding significant archaeological deposits and/or subsurface cultural features where possible.

17

6. ARCHAEOLOGICAL TESTING METHODS

Future archaeological investigations at Site 44LD1551 associated with all potential ground-disturbing activities—including improvements to Evergreen Mills Road, construction of the primary park access road and parking area, utility trenching, and any other required landscaping efforts—will be conducted in advance of the planned activities, and in a phased approach that will include up to four successive stages, as necessary. These stages will consist of: 1) test unit excavation; 2) monitoring of mechanical soil removal; 3) identification and documentation of subsurface cultural features; and 4) feature excavation.

The following section provides a description of the methodology to be employed at each stage of archaeological investigation.

Stage One: Test Unit Excavation Any portion of Site 44LD1551 that will be subjected to ground-disturbing

activities will first be investigated through the excavation of test units. The goal of test unit excavation will be to collect a representative artifact assemblage from the topsoil overburden, assess soil stratigraphy in the impacted area, collect a representative sample of artifacts from distinguishable soil layers, and identify potential subsurface features. Test unit excavation will provide at minimum a 9-percent sample of the total affected surface area, with consistent distribution throughout the entire area of impact. In the case of testing for the proposed utility corridor, the test units should be spaced at regular intervals, not exceeding 20 feet, along the length of the corridor. The units may be more closely spaced in areas deemed to have a high potential for the presence of cultural deposits and subsurface features, particularly within the north yard of the house. Each test unit will be excavated by hand, and will measure three feet square, unless they are expanded to expose identified subsurface features. Test units will be excavated by natural stratigraphic layers to the depth of culturally sterile subsoil, and all soils will be screened through ¼-inch hardware cloth. All artifacts will be retained for processing and analysis. The location of each test unit will be recorded on a site map, and documented with plan and profile drawings and photographs.

Stage Two: Monitoring of Mechanical Soil Removal Once the test unit excavation has been completed, the archaeologists will direct

and monitor the mechanical excavation of topsoil within all defined areas of ground-disturbance. The removal of the topsoil overburden will be accomplished using an excavator with a smooth bucket. The topsoil will be carefully removed to the depth of the surface of culturally sterile subsoil. In the course of mechanical excavation, should potentially significant buried cultural layers be encountered that were not sufficiently tested during Stage One, the mechanical excavation will be temporarily suspended until a representative sample of the layer(s) is retrieved.

18

If substantial quantities of backfill soils are excavated, they will be stockpiled beyond the site limits. During and after the process of mechanical excavation, archaeologists will use trowels and flat shovels to clean the exposed surface of the subsoil to expose, delineate, and mark all potential cultural features.

Stage Three: Identification and Documentation of Subsurface Cultural Features A formal grid will be re-established across the site and tied to a fixed datum. All

cultural features exposed by mechanical excavation will then be mapped on a site plan and photographed.

In the case of the proposed utility trenching, if significant subsurface cultural features are identified, park planners will make reasonable efforts to relocate the corridor to avoid them.

Stage Four: Feature Excavation All identified cultural features that cannot be avoided will be excavated according

to standardized procedure. Each will be recorded in plan at 1”=1’ scale and digitally photographed. For non-linear features, one half of the fill will be removed to reveal a section in profile. Once the profile has been recorded at 1”=1’ scale, the remaining half will be removed. Fill will be removed by natural layers, if visible, and will be screened through 1/4" wire mesh except in cases where clayey soils make screening impractical. In these instances, soils will be trowel-sorted. All soils will be described using standard Munsell color and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) textural terminology. Both sections of all non-linear features will be excavated, including postholes and other smaller cultural features. If during the sectioning process it is determined that the feature is a natural anomaly such as a tree hole, root stain, etc., the excavation will be terminated unless it is clear that the natural feature was used for cultural purposes (e.g. a tree hole trash pit). Linear features such as fence ditches will be sampled by removing representative sections, unless after sampling the field director decides it is reasonable to excavate the feature in its entirety.

Soil samples will be collected for flotation and subsequent chemical and floral analysis from features such as cellars, pits, and refuse deposits. Standardized samples consisting of approximately 25 percent of excavated fill will be taken from each defined stratum within the features. Because the build-up of moisture can pose problems for subsequent micro-botanical analysis, all soil samples will be allowed to dry thoroughly after they are brought to JRIA’s laboratory. Flotation will then be conducted within 90 days of removal from the site.

19

7. DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING

Once removed from the field, all archaeological data and specimens will be processed and analyzed. Prior to washing, artifacts from a given provenience first will be emptied into a screened basket and sorted. Items determined to be unstable will be dry-brushed or left unwashed, and re-bagged with the appropriate provenience information. Such items may include wood or other plant material, leather, bone, fabric, metal requiring immediate conservation, overglaze painted delftware, and other soft-bodied ceramics such as some local wares. Stable objects will be washed with a soft brush and edges of ceramics and glass will be thoroughly cleaned to aid in the identification of body type and mending. Items then will be placed on a drying rack by provenience. After washing, labeling and analysis, all artifacts will placed in resealable polyurethane bags with labels, then deposited in acid-free Hollinger boxes for permanent storage.

All objects larger than one square inch, except items that would be adversely affected by direct labeling (i.e., decayed bones, fabrics, charcoal), will be labeled with the site number and provenience with permanent ink and the label will be affixed with an undercoat and overcoat of clear sealer. When possible, all diagnostic materials will be labeled in the area that will not obscure important diagnostic features of the artifact. Unlabeled objects and items smaller than one square inch will be placed in an archival quality plastic container along with a label made of permanent ink on acid-free paper.

In a given provenience, artifacts will be sorted first by material and checked for mends. Stylistic attributes will be described with current terminology and recorded by count into a database for analysis. Non-diagnostic artifacts with like attributes will be grouped together, e.g., bottle body glass fragments, unrecognizable nail fragments, corroded metal fragments, and window glass. Diagnostic artifacts will be sorted and grouped together based on type or ware and/or vessel or function.

Specific studies of the material will be conducted to better understand site structure, chronology, function, and the interrelationships of features. Each feature or layer will be assigned a terminus post quem (TPQ) date in order to assess relationships between different features or layer. Cross-mend analysis also will permit the calculation of the minimum vessel count for the site. The minimum number of vessels identified may be used as a measure of socio-economic status, particularly when examined by ware type. All artifacts will be entered into a database to analyze and quantify artifact assemblages. The artifact catalog will be included with the final report, accompanied by the database file on a CD.

If sufficient faunal remains are identified, the assemblage will be analyzed by a qualified faunal expert. The results of faunal analysis will include species represented and an estimate of the minimum number of individuals of each species.

Once the various analyses have been completed, a final report on archaeological investigations at Site 44LD1551 will be prepared according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation and report guidelines established by DHR. The document will be produced in an 8.5" x 11" format with graphics bound within the text not exceeding 11" x 17". If one or more oversize color-graphics are also found necessary, however, they will be folded into a back-pocket

20

that is clearly labeled, referenced as an appendix, and bound into the final report copies. Graphics will be computer-generated using AutoCAD, or Adobe Illustrator software and photographs will be prepared in a professional manner suitable for publication. The final report will include an introduction, an overview of the environment and cultural history, a review of previous research and research questions, a description of methods, field results, artifact analysis, research synthesis and conclusions. Final reports will be submitted in quantities and formats as requested by Loudoun County and DHR.

21

8. PERMANENT CURATION OF PROJECT MATERIALS

All materials generated by the archaeological investigations will be temporarily

curated by the archaeological consultant while analysis and report production are ongoing. Within two months of acceptance of the final report, all artifacts, field and laboratory records, photographs, general project records, computerized data and other records will be delivered to Loudoun County in a format consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for permanent curation.

22

9. UNEXPECTED DISCOVERIES In the event that unanticipated archaeological resources are discovered in the

course of the archaeological investigation, the archaeological consultant will immediately notify the Loudoun County Archaeologist and DHR and initiate consultation to assess their significance and identify an acceptable strategy for mitigating effects to these resources.

Any human skeletal remains and associated funerary objects encountered during the archaeological investigations will be treated in accordance with the Regulations Governing Permits for the Archaeological Removal of Human Remains (Virginia Register 390-01-02) found in the Code of Virginia (10.1-2305, et seq., Virginia Antiquities Act). If such remains cannot be avoided, Loudoun County will obtain a permit from the DHR for the removal of human remains in accordance with the regulations stated above.

23

10. PUBLIC DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION

A key component of the plan for mitigating the adverse effects to Site 44LD1551 will be the presentation of any significant results of the archaeological investigations to the scholarly community and the general public, focusing particularly on those groups or communities that may have interests in the results.

At the conclusion of fieldwork, Loudoun County will be consulted to determine whether it would be appropriate or beneficial to open the site to the public for tours. Other avenues for disseminating the results of the investigation will be reviewed once the analysis and report preparation has been conducted, and may include preparation of an article for the Quarterly Bulletin of the Archeological Society of Virginia or other scholarly publication; presentation at a County-sponsored lecture series; and preparation of content for publication on the County website. In addition, an exhibit documenting the history of the property, and describing the results of all phases of archaeological testing at the site (including descriptive text, photographs, and artifacts), will be prepared for installation in the Lee-Hanson house or other venue deemed appropriate by Loudoun County.

24

11. PROJECT SCHEDULE

The archaeological fieldwork will be scheduled sufficiently in advance of the proposed construction schedule to allow for the unimpeded investigation of the testing areas, and the relocation of the proposed below-ground utilities, where possible. The amount of time necessary to complete the fieldwork component of the investigation will depend upon the nature and extent of identified cultural features requiring excavation. However, JRIA recommends that the fieldwork for the Evergreen Mills Road improvements, park access road, and parking areas should be initiated no less than six months prior to the planned construction activities.

The laboratory analysis and report production will be completed within nine months after the completion of fieldwork. Public dissemination of the information resulting from the project will be phased in coordination with Loudoun County.

25

12. REFERENCES

Beaudry, Mary C. 1986 “The Archaeology of Historical Land Use in Massachusetts,” Historical

Archaeology, 20(2): 38-46. Laird, Matthew R., Thomas Higgins, Hank Lutton, and Anthony Smith 2012 Phase II Archaeological Investigations at Sites 44LD1551, 44LD1553,

44LD1554, 44LD1555, and 44LD1559 at the Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, Loudoun County, Virginia. James River Institute for Archaeology, Inc., Williamsburg.

Spencer-Wood, Suzanne M., and Scott D. Heberling 1987 “Consumer Choices in White Ceramics: A Comparison of Eleven Early

Nineteenth-Century Sites,” in Suzanne M. Spencer-Wood (ed.), Consumer Choice in Historical Archaeology, pp. 55-84. Plenum Press, New York.

U.S. Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) 1981 7.5’Arcola topographic quadrangle map. Zawacki, Kimberly S., Matthew R. Laird, Ashley Neville, and Karisa Jacobsen 2010 A Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of the Hanson Property and an Intensive

Architectural Survey of the Lee-Hanson House (053-0892), Loudoun County, Virginia. James River Institute for Archaeology, Inc., Williamsburg, Virginia.

26

ATTACHMENT A

Scale: 1"=

60'

03.1

9.2

014

HA

L & B

ERN

I HA

NSO

N R

EGIO

NA

L PA

RK

Loudoun C

ounty, V

A

Loudoun C

ounty P

RC

S

SPEX

LAY

OU

TA

TTA

CH

MEN

T A

28

ATTACHMENT B

30

ATTACHMENT C

HA

L & B

ERN

I HA

NSO

N R

EGIO

NA

L PA

RK

Loudoun C

ounty, V

A

Loudoun C

ounty P

RC

S

Scale: 1"=

50'

AD

MIN

ISTR

ATIO

N B

UILD

ING

SECTIO

N03.1

9.2

014

EXIST

ING

HO

USE / P

RO

PO

SED

1H

OU

SE / AD

MIN

BLD

G: PLAN

2H

OU

SE

/ AD

MIN

BLD

G: S

EC

TION

ATTA

CH

MEN

T C

32

ATTACHMENT D

Scale: 1"=

60'

03.1

9.2

014

HA

L & B

ERN

I HA

NSO

N R

EGIO

NA

L PA

RK

Loudoun C

ounty, V

A

Loudoun C

ounty P

RC

S

RO

W A

LIGN

MEN

TS

ATTA

CH

MEN

T D