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J. C. Scofield Farm Project, 2002/2003
| Site Type: Euroamerican Farmstead | Age: Mid-Late 1800s |
| Location: Kendal Co., Illinois | Survey Type: Vertical Magnetic Gradient |
| Instrument: Geoscan Research FM 36 Fluxgate Gradiometer | Data Density: 8 readings/meter; 50 cm transect interval |
| Surface Conditions: Corn stubble | Area Surveyed: Six 20x20-meter blocks (2,400m2) |
| The J. C. Scofield site was
excavated in 2002-2003 by the Northern Illinois University
contract archaeology program in advance of the construction of a
large housing development just east of Yorkville, Illinois. The
site was identified during a Phase I surface survey as a small
cluster of mid-nineteenth century artifacts, including primarily
brick and limestone fragments, historic pottery sherds, and glass
fragments. A literature review of historic maps and records
revealed that the artifact cluster was located on land once owned
by J. C. Scofield, a prominent figure in Kendall County's early
history, and that it may coincide with the location of the
Scofield house. Descriptions of the house, and a possible picture,
suggest that it had a limestone foundation and probably stood over
a cellar. The house and farm buildings that once stood on the
location of this historic artifact scatter have long since been
demolished and the land returned to cultivation.
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In an effort to identify structural
remains OVAC conducted a small geophysical survey in the area of
the artifact scatter containing the highest density of brick and
limestone fragments. In the image to the left, the magnetic data
are situated on top of a contour map of the site made with data
collected by OVAC. Three very prominent magnetic anomalies are
apparent in the magnetic data.
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While it was expected that historic structural remains would be found during the magnetic survey, the results of the survey exceeded our expectations. Prior to excavation of the anomalies, OVAC provided the NIU archaeologists with some expectations about what the magnetic anomalies might represent. It seemed clear that the central anomaly represented the cellar under the house. The projection off the east end of the anomaly was thought to be a stairway coming up out of the cellar to the outside of the house. At the time it was thought that the lighter area surrounding the stronger magnetic component of the cellar might be the signature of a builder's trench surrounding the foundation. The two other large anomalies were thought to be the locations of wells, cisterns, and/or privies. In addition to the large anomalies, the data contain a number of smaller, positive monopolar anomalies that are probably also cultural features.
| Using a total station, OVAC laid out excavation unit boundaries around the magnetic anomalies (shown in red to the left). NIU archaeologists used a backhoe to remove the plowzone above the magnetic anomalies. The cultural features encountered below ground very closely matched the magnetic anomalies. The projections about the central magnetic anomaly--that it was created by a cellar with a stairway extending to the east--were found to be correct. Excavation determined that this anomaly, Feature 2, was in fact a mid-1800s cellar with limestone walls and with a brick lined stairway leading out of it to the east. Based on these results, it is likely that the lower magnetic readings found along the edges of this feature were created by the limestone foundation itself (blocks of limestone are less magnetic than topsoil). |  |
The large anomaly cluster behind the structure was created by a cistern (Feature 3) and a well (Feature 4). The anomaly in front of the house proved to be the biggest surprise. Instead of finding a well, cistern, or privy, excavation revealed this anomaly to be an earlier cellar feature with a stairway projecting off to the west. The walls of the cellar were plaster-lined soil and the fill of the cellar was very organic rich. Feature 1 is likely a cellar related to the first house built on this plot of land, perhaps occupied while the larger, more permanent structure (Feature 2) was under construction.