AMERICAN FUR COMPANY/ SIBLEY HOUSE WEEKLY UPDATES
Prior to the initiation of major excavations in June 1996, a dry-laid stone
surface drainage ditch had been identified on the south side of the Sibley
House. This feature was initially recorded in the Spring of 1995. On the
west side another stone structural feature resembling a wall foundation
had been recorded trending at an acute angle from the Sibley house. In the
front of the house (north) a layer of plaster had been identified that is
interpreted as a deposit associated with the 1910 DAR restoration. Beneath
approximately 70 centimeters of historic period cultural deposits is 80
to 90 centimeters of natural soil development. The upper surface of this
dark loamy soil was the surface upon which the house was constructed and
into which the basement was excavated.
Weekly Update -- June 17-21
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
Stratigraphy in trench north of Sibley House
Our first week in the field for this major excavation was spent re-excavating
units backfilled after the 1995 season. Exposed stratigraphy on the excavation
trench walls provided new staff with the opportunity to become acquainted
with both the cultural variability and the natural soil formations lying
below the 19th century occupations. All staff toured the historic buildings
on the site This week also saw the beginning of the archaeological field
school. The class is made up of undergraduate and graduate students from
the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee,
and the University of Wisconsin - Madison. All participants attended lectures
in the implementation of stratigraphic excavation methods, MHS Archeology
Department recording protocols, field conservation practices, and in fur
trade material culture identification.
Surveying around Sibley House
Weekly Update -- June 24 -28
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
Section of surface drain ditch south of Sibley House
The second week of fieldwork progressed slowly as crew became familiarized
with the varied cultural deposits, site structure, and soil conditions.
Crews on the south side of the house continued to expose additional aspects
of the surface drainage system. Earlier excavations indicated that the ca.
1 meter wide drain ditch was constructed at the base of a steep slope behind
the house and designed to intercept surface water and divert it to the west
around the house. An additional drainage feature leading up the hill to
the south was discovered. This ditch, apparently a later addition, joined
the earlier drain feature near the southwest corner of the house.
Weekly Update -- July 1-3
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
Altered bone die
Excavations conducted during this short week produced two rectangular post
holes measuring approximately 40 x 30 centimeters. Approximately 2.3 meters
apart, both features underlie elements of the stone surface drainage trench
indicating a date earlier than the trench. One of the most notable artifact
finds from this week's excavations was a bone die (one of a pair of dice)
that had been modified from its original configuration. Instead of six consecutive
numbers (1 through 6), the die had a 3, four 5s and a six. The cube showed
alterations that changed the faces containing the 1, 2, and 4 making each
into a 5.
Left to right, Unidentified stemmed point and Brewerton
Point
At the base of the natural "B" horizon excavators found evidence
of a pit feature cut into the gravel substrate at the site. In that pit
was a projectile point tentatively identified as a Brewerton side notched
point. Brewerton points are usually considered to date to the Late Archaic
period. The pit measured approximately 1 meter in diameter and was only
identifiable from the surrounding black silty clay soil matrix for 40 centimeters
in the upper levels of the "B" horizon.
Weekly Update -- July 8-12
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
Pins and glass beads
Wet screening began to produce a number of small glass "seed"
beads. The most common bead types are blue and white glass. Quantities of
straight pins were also recovered. Approximately 100 beads had been recovered
by the end of the week. Excavations near the northeast corner of the house
indicated a series of fill episodes over a colluvial silt loam which in
turn overlay an unweathered clayey gravel thought to be deposited as episodes
of Glacial River Warren activity.
Glacial gravel base strata
Weekly Update -- July 15-19
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
Extensive stone surface drainage system
Additional elements of the surface drainage system were documented at the
rear (south) of the house. It is now recorded as at least 11 meters east-west
and 7 meters north-south in extent. While its eastern terminus is now known,
the other three directions continue with no apparent end in sight. Repair
of the drain seems evident from the replacement of the original vertically
set dry laid stones with limestone slabs placed horizontally.
Weekly Update -- July 22-26
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
Stone subsurface drain
The stone feature initially recorded west of the house which appeared to
represent a wall foundation was documented in an adjacent unit. A portion
of this feature had been disturbed (or its terminus reached) at this point.
Details of the feature now clearly indicate that the "foundation"
is in reality a stone drain lying in a trench that had been cut through
portions of the earlier surface drainage feature. This subsurface drain
was constructed of dry laid limestone walls with the intervening space capped
with large slabs of limestone.
Weekly Update -- July 29-August 2
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
Ivory folding fan frame fragment
Work under the upstairs exterior doorway produced another large quantity
of beads and straight pins. A piece of carved ivory was recovered that is
identified as the "frame" of a lady's folding fan. Beads recovered
were purple, red, blue, white and black in color. Excavations have been
completed on the north (front) side of the house. Excavations indicate that
stratigraphic deposits are distinctly different and highly variable on different
sides of the house. Not unexpectedly, the nature of the site strata vary
in relation to the two additions to the house.
Weekly Update -- August 5 - 9
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
Excavating iron bands south of Sibley House
One excavation unit at the rear (south) of the Sibley House documented an
unusual feature consisting of two large, circular metal bands. Initially
the objects appeared as though they were wagon wheel rims. However, the
appearance of one iron band sitting 10 centimeters above the other, and
the interior of the "bands" filled with very loose rubble, suggests
that they may have lined a hole or shaft cut into the subsoil. The projected
circumference of the rings indicates that they will intercept the south
wall of the first addition to the house. If this interpretation is correct
then this feature may date prior to the 1840s addition.
Weekly Update -- August 12 - 16
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
Metal band lined pit west of Sibley House
A second set of metal rings was located lining a pit near the northeast
corner of the house. Approximately 90 centimeters in diameter, there are
4 "bands" lining the pit which measures 50 centimeters in depth.
Serving as a trash pit later, the fill appears to date to the last quarter
of the 19th century. The pit's function is still undetermined. The objects
conservator from the MHS John and Martha Daniels Conservation Laboratory
visited the site and provided direction and assistance in protecting the
bands until removal. A "removal plan" was developed to assure
protection and preservation for these fragile objects.
Conservator Paul Storch stabilizing metal bands
Excavations under porch of second addition to Sibley House
Excavations began under the floor of a porch that was on the north side
of the second addition to the house. This single storey "office"
addition was apparently constructed in the 1850s. The porch floor has been
replaced since the 1910 restoration, but relatively little disturbance is
apparent from surface indications. Two 1883 Indian head pennies and two
1869 five-cent pieces were recovered near the surface under the porch. Strata
were recorded dipping towards a filled-in cellar window opening. Excavations
along the east side of the "office" indicated very little change
in grade over the 140 years since the addition was placed on the house.
Weekly Update -- August 19 - 23
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
Pit lined with metal bands (probable rain barrel)
The metal band-lined pit at the rear (south) of the house was approximately
60% excavated this week. The remainder lies in an adjacent unit to the west.
Although 30 cm. larger in diameter, the feature was nearly identical to
that excavated at the northwest corner of the house. Fill in this pit was
similar to that in the smaller one excavated last week. There now seems
to be little doubt that these pits contained wooden barrels with iron bands.
Both "pits" are tentatively identified as rain barrels set into
the ground to a depth about one-half their height. The pit at the rear of
the house contained relatively few artifacts, but included two complete
2 ink wells (1 stoneware, 1 glass), a complete brass-framed trade mirror
(5 cm in diameter), and an undecorated ironstone plate.
Select artifacts from "barrel" pit south of house 
Crushed Onamia ceramic vessel
Excavations under the porch identified a large number of sherds from what
appears to be a nearly complete crushed pre-contact period ceramic vessel.
The vessel has been tentatively identified as a ceramic type known as Onamia.
This identification is based on vessel form and neck decoration
consisting of three horizontal rows of cord-wrapped stick impressions. Onamia
ceramics are apparently transitional between the Middle and Late Woodland
periods and are dated between ca. 800 -1000 A.D. The extremely friable nature
of the vessel fragments brought the MHS objects conservatory to the site
again to recommend treatment and begin consolidation with an acrylic emulsion.
As the emulsion dries over the weekend sherds will be less fragile during
removal next week.
Weekly Update -- August 26 - 30
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
Careful excavation of crushed ceramic vessel
Research continues under the front porch to understand the stratigraphic
relationships obtaining as a result f the "office" addition to
the house. Efforts are beginning to expose the foundations of this addition
in order to better evaluate the deposits created as a result of this later
construction. The removal of the concentration of sherds belonging to the
crushed Onamia ceramic vessel was completed in one excavation unit, while
other sherds thought to belong to the vessel were recovered from a neighboring
unit.
Neck and rim sherds of Onamia ceramic vessel (ca. 800 - 1000 A.D.) 
Excavations are proceeding on the south side of the house to effect removal
of the remaining barrel bands. With good weather they should be removed
by mid-week and will be taken to the conservation laboratory at the Minnesota
History Center. The bands removed two weeks ago have undergone documentation,
cleaning, stabilization treatment and have been coated with microcrystalline
wax, and following analysis, are ready for storage.
Weekly Update -- September 3 - 6
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
Crew size began to diminish this week as some staff headed back to school.
Work was completed under the "office" addition porch which discovered
that the foundations for this add-on were only 50 centimeters deep. Work
is progressing slowly on the removal of the south side "rain barrel."
Approximately 40% of the extent of this feature is in an adjoining 1 x 2
meter unit. Excavations at the northwest corner of the house continue to
find trade beads above the debris deposited from initial house construction
and precontact ceramics and lithic debitage in the lower levels of the site.
Rainbarrel in lower left corner of photo
Weekly Update -- September 9 - 14
MHS Archaeology Department On-line Excavations at the American Fur Company,
Mendota, MN
variable pattern stonework
of surface drain system
Cleaning for final photographs of the drain allowed good photographic documentation
of the extent and patterning of the stonework. The drain appears to be comprised
of at least three construction episodes, all within a relatively short period
of time. The house was completed ca. 1837 and the first addition was added
approximately 11 years later. The late 1840s saw the surface drain being
partially replaced with a subsurface drain. Within in that decade the original
trench flowing to the west northwest was broadened at the lower end. Following
that work another section of drain was added at the west end extending to
the south up the hill.
A consulting civil engineer determined that the outflow from any new drainage
system to be installed at the house will carry water away from the house
to the northwest. Upon learning this information, an additional 1 x 2 meter
unit was excavated 5 meters north of the house along the proposed drain
system route. The upper 60 cm. of that unit showed evidence of disturbed
contexts from late 19th and early 20th century activities. Barrel bands
at the rear of the house were finally removed late Friday afternoon.
With this the final week of a large crew, a staff photograph of the majority
of the crew was taken in the trench in front of the house. Final cleaning,
photography, and initiation of cataloging begins next week. We will continue
to provide periodic progress updates throughout the winter and 'special
bulletins' as analysis proceeds in discovering patterning at the site.
10 of 14 crew members
Formal excavations culminated with a Public
Archaeology program called "Archaeology Discovery Days" on
Saturday. The program involved children and their parents in simulated archaeological
excavations in refilled excavation units.
All photographs copyright 1996 Archaeology Department, Minnesota Historical
Society
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Stratigraphy in trench north of Sibley House
Surveying around Sibley House
Section of surface drain ditch south of Sibley House
Altered bone die
Left to right, Unidentified stemmed point and Brewerton
Point
Pins and glass beads
Glacial gravel base strata
Extensive stone surface drainage system
Stone subsurface drain
Ivory folding fan frame fragment
Excavating iron bands south of Sibley House
Metal band lined pit west of Sibley House
Conservator Paul Storch stabilizing metal bands
Pit lined with metal bands (probable rain barrel)
Crushed Onamia ceramic vessel
Careful excavation of crushed ceramic vessel 
variable pattern stonework
of surface drain system
10 of 14 crew members