Attachment_10__Archaeolofical_Survey.pdf

COMPLETION MEMO

Intensive (Locational) Archaeological Survey of the

Old North Crypt 193 Salem Street

North End, Boston, Massachusetts

State Archaeologist Permit #3720

April 2017

A team of archaeologists from the City Archaeology Program and osteoarchaeologists completed the Intensive (Locational) archaeological survey within the crypt at Old North Church in March of 2017. The principal archaeologist was Joseph Bagley, Boston’s city archaeologist, and the co-project archaeologists were Bagley and Jane Lyden Rousseau, osteoarchaeologist.

The field crew included osteoarchaeologist Sarah Kiley Schoff and a team of volunteers from the City Archaeology Program.

Method

As stipulated in the permit, the goals of this project were to excavate four text trenches within the crypt walkway to gather three data sets: the conditions of soil beneath the existing poured concrete slab (c. 1968), the presence of human remains within the soils beneath the slab, and the presence of grave shafts extending below the proposed area of potential effect (APE), 60 centimeters below surface (cmbs).

Prior to the arrival of the archaeology team, four holes were cut through the existing concrete slab. After consultation with the City Archaeologist, Old North Church Foundation Executive Director and Old North Vicar, Stephen Ayres, instructed private contractors to cut 1-meter wide trenches through the concrete near the center point of each of the four walkways in the crypt. A plan drawing of the crypt (figure 1) indicates the location and size of each of these units. The trenches/units were numbered 1-4 beginning on the eastern walkway and continuing counterclockwise.

Excavations were conducted using trowels and shovels. Levels were excavated in 5 cm arbitrary levels, stopping at all features and strata changes. Notes were taken by Bagley, digitally, using Google documents. Provenience data was recorded for each level and strata using a coding system consisting of a unique three-letter code followed by sequential numbers.

The unique code for this project is ONC, which stands for Old North Crypt. Bags were labeled with both context code and complete provenience data. Field notes and context code tables will be included in final report.

All soils were screened through ⅛” mesh; however, clay and moist soils made screening nearly impossible in some instances. For these instances, the soils were placed on a flat surface and systematically hand-processed to recover artifacts.

All bones were examined by at least one osteoarchaeologist to determine if they could be human.

Photos were taken at the bottom of each 5cm level, or when the entirety of the unit had transitioned into a new strata. Profiles were drawn of at least one wall upon completion, and all walls were photographed. All plan photos will be included in final report

Results

Three of the four units reached 60 cmbs or sterile C soils. No human remains or grave shafts were identified within the units.

Unit 1 Unit 1 was located on the eastern walkway near the center of the walkway as measured north-south. Its eastern end included both tombs 18 and 19, which housed (and may still) the remains of the first ministers of the church and their families. The western end of unit 1 was partially located at the end of the brick wall that extends the center of the crypt east-west and serves as both support for the floor of the church, above, and the rear of the tombs extending away from the wall to the north and south. While both tomb 33 to the north and 20 to the south abutted Unit 1, their tomb openings were not near the western wall of the unit as these opened to the northern and southern walkways.

The first strata was the concrete slab, so strata 2 began with the first layer of soil, layer 3 (layer 1 and 2 being within the concrete strata) at 10 cmbs and extended to 15 cmbs. From 10-60 cmbs, the entirety of the unit consisted of a mottled silty and clay-rich fill deposit (strata 2), with extensive rodent burrows. Some areas of mottling were encountered across large areas of the unit making the field crew believe new strata were encountered, however these were quickly determined to be fill as they were only 1-2 cm in thickness with undulating edges.

Of particular note within the soils was several areas of black organic-rich deposits, most measuring between 1-5 cm in size and mostly round in shape, which contained black soils coupled with soft shell clam. Numerous samples of soft shell clam were recovered. While no other artifacts besides clam were found in these deposits, it is possible that they may represent a shell midden. As no historic artifacts were found within this portion of the mottled fill, it is likely that this midden is an ancient Native American shell midden that was brought into the site as fill, but the lack of any other ancient artifacts makes it impossible to state with confidence the date or cultural affiliation of the shell midden. It is possible that these fills originated at the location of the Old North Church and were excavated from the ground when placing the foundations of the church’s western end into the slope of Copps hill, and using the upper soil deposits, which may lkasparian Highlight lkasparian Highlight lkasparian Highlight have included a shell midden, into the eastern end of the foundation as fill to make the cellar floor of the church level.

No subsoils were encountered, and the unit stopped at 60 cmbs as per the permit. An extensive rodent burrow was encountered at 55 cmbs, which at first appeared to be an elongated oval/rectangle or possible grave shaft, but this organic deposit quickly disappeared within 1-2 cm leaving no evidence of a vertical cut or feature edge in the soil below.

Artifacts were dominated by shell in this unit, however pipe stems, Westerwald stoneware, nails, and tin-glazed earthenware were also recovered. All artifacts appear to be 18th-early 19th century in origin. An incomplete rodent skeleton was recovered in the first level of excavation in the northwest corner of the unit near the tomb wall in a darker stain likely associated with a rodent burrow. Extensive rodent burrows throughout the unit, with partial rodent skeleton likely disturbed by repeated burrowing in and near existing burrows, indicates bioturbation in the area of the unit.

After excavating, the profiles were drawn (figure 2), confirming that there was a very consistent stratigraphy within the entire unit. The eastern wall shows that the transition from stone foundation to brick superstructure for tombs 18 and 19 are at different depths, suggesting these were built at different times when the physical walkway was at a different height. The western wall shows that the two tombs foundations are at a higher level than the foundation for the central wall supporting the church floor, which makes sense as the wall would predate the tombs.

Unit 2

This unit was located in the northern walkway, with the Stranger’s Tomb (14) located at its northern end, and tomb 30 to the south. Strata 1 was the concrete slab. Soils were quite different than unit 1 as there was much more sand in Unit 2.

Strata 2 was a compacted mottled deposit, which transitions to Strata 3, a mortar-rich deposit, with bricks and demolition debris increasing greatly until it ended at a second compacted floor, bricks, and slate at 25 cmbs. Upon reaching the second compacted surface of strata 3, three features became apparent. Feature 1 was a three-sided square shape brick structure with a concentration of white mortar inside. Feature 2 was a layer of slate shingles in front of tomb 30.

Feature 3 was a builder’s trench along the northern wall of the unit. All three are visible in the plan photo at 25 cmbs (figure 3).

A slate ledge was encountered along the southern end of the unit along the tomb wall suggesting a possible slate floor in the area at one point that had been removed.

Features 1 and 2 ended just under the slate and brick visible in figure 3, and it is likely that both were fill brought into the site to level the ground prior to the concrete floor being poured. The lkasparian Highlight lkasparian Highlight lkasparian Highlight bricks were large and highly regular, similar to the bricks used in the 1960s columns. They slate may have been a convenient fill. Neither feature is significant.

Feature 3 continued until 40 cmbs when it appears to transition from backfill along the builder’s trench to the actual stone foundations of the Stranger’s Tomb. Feature 3 contains a hinged coffin handle fragment (figure 4).

Below the features and strata 4 the soil quickly becomes sandy and less mottled, with the exception of micro-layers of iron oxide and olive sand typical of glacial outwash subsoils. After two sterile layers, it was decided that this was glacial outwash subsoils and the unit terminated after careful inspection for potential grave shafts, which there were none. A profile of the west wall was drawn (figure 5).

Artifacts were greater in number in this unit, but represent general construction debris, brought-in fill, and some evidence of grave cleanout including the coffin handle. All the artifacts are 18th and 19th century. Soils become significantly wetter with depth indicating drainage issues in this portion of the walkway, despite the sand.

Unit 3

This unit was located in the western walkway near tombs 8 and 9, directly under the entrance to the church. began with large quantities of clay-rich mottled soils, bricks, and cobbles.

Numerous whole and partial bricks were encountered at 20 cmbs in what appeared to be a haphazard pathway in the clay. It is likely that the wet soils combined with the clay matrix made this walkway area quite slippery requiring the addition of the bricks into the clay for traction.

In the western end of the unit, closest to tombs 8 and 9, water began seeping into the unit by 25 cmbs. Upon reaching 30 cmbs, the entire floor of the unit had become flooded. At that point, brick fragments were still visible within the floor and no sandy C soils were visible. The unit was terminated due to the flooding (figure 6). The north wall was profiled (figure 7)

Searching the area, three possible origins of the water were found. A dripping pipe associated with the building’s fire suppression system was located about 5 meters to the north of the unit.

This water first drips into a vessel, which now full results in the water exiting the vessel and seeping into the concrete. Additionally, there is a steam vent associated with the heating system, also located about 5 meters to the north, directly across the walkway from the fire suppression system that when on, also drips water onto the floor. Finally, as the western wall of this unit abuts the exterior foundation of the western edge of the Old North Church building, it is possible that exterior water is seeping through or under the foundation of the church and entering the walkway area. Relatively recent re-grading in the entryway of the Church was completed with the goal of shedding water away from the entrance. This may not have shed water away from the building, overall, resulting in water concentrating at the foundation and downslope of Copps Hill. Additionally, downspouts may be leaking underground adding to the lkasparian Highlight lkasparian Highlight lkasparian Highlight lkasparian Highlight lkasparian Highlight lkasparian Highlight lkasparian Highlight lkasparian Highlight drainage issues on the property. Finally, significant snow accumulation and melting occurred during the project.

Artifacts recovered include numerous shell, nail, and some ceramic fragments, all 18th and 19th century in origin, but all found in fill. 18th century straight pins, likely associated with a burial shroud, were recovered. A concentration of animal, not human, bones were found in the northeast corner of the unit in level 4 and 5 (15-25 cmbs).

Unit 4

The northern end of this unit was located just under tomb 23 and the southern under tomb 3.

Large amounts of demo debris were encountered just under the concrete slab, which transitioned to a brown mottled fill soil. Straight shroud pins, a probable coffin tack, possible viewing window glass, and another hinged coffin handle were recovered near the northern and southern ends of the units in this mottled strata. C soils identical to those first encountered in unit 2 were found beginning at around 22-25 cmbs. After two sterile soils and having checked the floor carefully for grave shafts, the unit was terminated and the east wall was profiled (figure 8)

The southern end of the unit had similar slate and mortar ledge as unit 2 suggesting a possible slate floor at some point in the crypts history.

This unit had the shallowest cultural deposit, but the greatest number of artifacts associated with grave goods. These were concentrated at the northern and southern ends of the unit which suggest they dropped directly down from a tomb entrance during cleanout or removal of previously interred individuals.

Conclusions

It appears that during the construction of Old North Church around 1723, the foundations excavated into the eastern slope of Copps Hill cut through topsoils and into sterile glacial sandy outwash. In the western end of the project area, water in the unit prevented us from documenting the depth of these deposits, however subsoils were reached in under two feet (60cm) of excavations in the northern and southern units within the crypt. The easternmost unit was in fill for the entirety of the 60 cm excavated indicating the possible placement of excavated soils from the western end of the foundation excavation onto the eastern end to make the basement (future crypt) level. These soils may have contained a Native shell midden.

At some point during the 18th or early 19th century, there may have been a floor placed onto the crypt floor mortared together with sand and lime mortar. This was later removed, but the margins of the walkway were visible in units 2 and 4 on the north and south walkways.

Prior to pouring the existing concrete floor, fill was brought into the site to make the presumably undulating walkway surface level, producing the top strata in units 2 and 4, likey the surface of unit 3 as well.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, tombs were regularly cleaned out, resulting in the accidental dropping of grave/coffin contents including decorative coffin tacks, shroud pins, coffin handles, and viewing glass. These were most prevalent in units 2-4 with no coffin goods found in unit 1.

No human remains were identified. Several non-diagnostic mammal bones were found, but none could be conclusively identified as human. With over 1,000 individuals having passed through the tombs within the crypt, it is unlikely that at no human remains were dropped at any point in the history of tomb cleanout. This is supported by the presence of grave goods.

That said, there are no human remains present resulting in the following hypotheses for how this happened.

Hypothesis 1: Human remains were boxed within tombs prior to removal at all times of the tombs history. This is not supported by Jane Lyden Rousseau’s research, which states that remains were swept clean from the crypts (Rousseau 2006, 22).

Hypothesis 2: The crypt had a floor. If the slate found in units 2 and 4 represent a stone slate floor within the crypt, it is possible that during the period of tomb cleanout, bones and teeth would have landed on the stone floor and were visible enough to be picked up, immediately.

Cracks and edges of flooring would still collect remains, potentially.

Hypothesis 3: Individuals who removed remains from tombs were especially careful to collect absolutely all remains. This is somewhat dubious as the task of tomb cleanout would have been undesirable, and those hired or asked to do the task may not have been careful.

Additionally, only candlelight was possible during the 18th and 19th century making accurate cleanup even more challenging.

Hypothesis 4: The floor of the crypt has been removed and replaced with recent fill that does not contain human remains. This is somewhat doubtful due to coffin artifacts being present.

Hypothesis 5: The remains ended up on the floor but were crushed or decomposed over the years. The lack of durable teeth and the presence of preserved bone in the units make this option problematic.

Hypothesis 6: Remains are present, but were not found in the four units excavated. This is highly likely given the sample size that we may have simply missed remains in different areas.

Hypothesis 7: Remains were kept within coffins during removal resulting in the dropping of coffin parts, but not remains themselves. The tombs have not been opened in living memory. Without knowing the exact condition of these coffins (and the remains) after ~100 years entombed, it's difficult to know whether or not they could have been moved as one, or would have fallen apart entirely, and spilling remains. The presence of pins, which would have been located within the coffins, makes this hypothesis partially problematic, though if most coffins were removed relatively intact, this could account for the lack of human remains in the walkway.

Most likely scenario: Human remains were carefully removed from the tombs, possibly still within their relatively intact coffins, and the walkways kept as clear of bones as possible either through conscious picking up of any dropped remains, or regular sweeping of a stone floor.

There are likely minimal human remains present within the soils to be excavated within the walkway, but we cannot state with certainty that none exist.

Recommendations

Based on the above, we recommend the following:

1. Hire an archaeologist to be an on-site monitor during soil removal from the crypt to determine if there are grave shafts within exposed subsoils

2. All bones excavated from this survey that can not be conclusively identified as non-human, should be placed in a labeled bag, returned to the crypt, and placed in tomb 36 via the access tube cut into the tomb during the construction of the columbarium.

3. Plans be made by the Old North Foundation to address drainage and standing water issues, which will become greater as soils are removed from the site below the water table.

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Figures

1. Plan of excavations for Intensive (Locational) archaeological survey, March 2017

2. Profile of north wall in Unit 1

3. Plan photo of Unit 2 at 25cmbs showing slate on left (feature 2), brick structure in center

(feature 1), a builder's trench on right (feature 3)

4. Sample of coffin-related artifacts including: Top: Coffin handle from Unit 2. Middle: Coffin handle from Unit 4, Coffin tack from Unit 4, Shroud pins from Unit 4. Bottom: Possible viewing glass from Unit 4.

5. Profile of west wall in Unit 2

6. Flooded floor of Unit 3 at 30cmbs

7. Profile of north wall in Unit 3

8. Profile of east wall in Unit 4

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