August 13, 2003
Fieldwork has concluded for the near term at Weston Manor. Our primary goals have been met for this season, namely completion of a shovel test survey and a search for outbuildings with test unit excavations.
A third unit was partially excavated east of the main house since the last progress report. It was placed at the estimated location of the outbuilding seen in the foreground of the 1870s photograph we recently discovered at the Virginia Historical Society. A considerable quantity of brick rubble was exposed in the unit, somewhat similar to what was observed in nearby Test Unit 1. The consistent occurrence of brick in this portion of the east yard is highly suggestive of a substantial building site, perhaps an early kitchen. More work will be necessary, however, to test this possibility. Incidentally, subsequent examination of the historic photograph indicates that the building in the image is probably more distant from the main house than the locations of Test Units 1 and 2, leaving the source of the brick rubble very much undetermined.
The substantial brick foundation in Test Unit 2 west of the house appears to be exactly aligned with the front of the main house, on the same plane so to speak. This alignment would be consistent with the symmetry typical of Georgian plantation architecture. Perhaps this structure was one of the original outbuildings.
We recommend that the Historic Hopewell Foundation consider these results and set priorities for further investigations. Plans are underway to celebrate Virginia Archaeology Month (October) at Weston Manor with a public talk and a week-long volunteer excavation. One of the noted building sites could be chosen as the area for this work.
