Phase II Evaluative Testing and Phase III Data Recovery, Site 28-Bu-542, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Burlington County, New Jersey

Summary

HDR Environmental, Operations and Construction, Inc. (HDR) was contracted by Michael Baker Corporation to conduct archaeological investigations on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL), Burlington County, New Jersey. The proposed hardening of overruns for Runway 06-24 requires changing the alignment of Texas Avenue. This realignment will affect a portion of site 28-BU-542 within the historic Pointville town site. Alternative alignments were suggested for Texas Avenue that would avoid the site; these were ultimately rejected, however, due to safety concerns.

Phase II investigations located two structures: a historic foundation and a privy. Other areas of the Phase II investigation yielded artifacts from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. Based on these findings site, site 28-BU-542 was determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. From April 5 to April 29, 2011 HDR conducted Phase III data recovery of the portion of site 28-BU-542 within the proposed Texas Avenue realignment area of potential effect (APE). The purpose of the Phase III effort was to mitigate potential impacts to the site by recovering the available archaeological data in a controlled manner and to assess the potential for the establishment of a historic archaeological district within the APE and the larger Pointville site area.

Investigations identified 12 historic features in the APE. These were two foundations with cellars, two probable privies, cesspits, a backyard area, sections of wood and ceramic pipe, and small refuse pits. All of the historic features, including those identified during Phase II investigations, were created or reused during the 1930s and 1940s. Features that originated in the nineteenth century were apparently cleaned of earlier artifacts prior to their last uses as refuse dumps. Consequently, deep features such as cellar holes and privies lacked stratified archaeological deposits and all cultural features lacked remains from the site’s previously assumed period of significance (circa 1800-1900). Artifacts representing the site’s nineteenth century occupation were limited to approximately 12 inches of soil in general yard and lot areas.

The designation of a Pointville National Historic Archaeological District, of which site 28-BU-542 is a contributing element, is recommended as feasible. However, further information is needed to identify all potential themes within such a district and criteria for evaluation of contributing and noncontributing elements within the district. The available archaeological and archival data for the affected portion of site 28-BU-542 have been extensively sampled and analyzed. These actions have minimized proposed impacts to the site that would occur from realignment of Texas Avenue. No further cultural resource management actions are recommended for the excavated portions of site 28-BU-542 prior to the reconstruction of Texas Avenue.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Archaeology and Cultural Resources Archive

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1857 to 1939 (Occupation of Pointville)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Air Force Base

Contributor(s): Yelena Vilovchik; Megan Mueller; Jason Smiley; Christine Hajek; Brandy Hurt; Benjamin Fischer; Timothy Didlake; Nicholas Frederick; Daniel Hart; Shad Manning; James Parker; Jennifer Theis

Field Director(s): Judy Davis; Andrew Mueller

Principal Investigator(s): Marcus Grant

Prepared By(s): HDR Environmental, Operations and Construction

Submitted To(s): Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Air Force Base

File Information