Archeological Testing at the Miller House Site (11SG1318) Lincoln Home National Historic Site (LIHO), Illinois

Test excavations at the Miller House site in Lincoln Home National Historic Site (LIHO), were undertaken in response to National Park Service (NPS) plans to restore and reconstruct the house to its original circa 1860 appearance. The scale of the construction is such that there is potential for considerable ground disturbance. This, in an archeological site which historical documentation and small-scale archeological investigations have demonstrated to contain or potentially contain intact deposits and remnants of secondary structures and features such as barns, cisterns, wells, summer kitchen, walkways, etc. The primary purpose of this investigation was to obtain architectural information important to completion of the Historic Structures Report or HSR prepared by Quinn Evans/Architects (2006). The archeological team also sought to clarify the potential range of archeological resources (stratigraphy, features, and artifacts) in the lot and their locations. Of particular investigative priority was "ground truthing" or determining the source of anomalies identified by Steve DeVore during his geophysical inventory of the site (De Yore 2006). Most notable were data from electrical conductivity and ground penetrating radar (OPR) surveys suggesting a possible cistern next to the house at its southeast corner and two possible privies immediately south of the backyard
boardwalk. Approximately 25 m2 of the site was investigated using 6 backhoe trenches and 13 test units. Among the findings were that the cultural stratigraphy at the back of the house was much more complex and continued to a much greater depth than that in the front. This investigation confirmed the original ground surface at 90 to 97 cm below 25 cultural strata reflecting sixteen historic (circa 1858-1920s) and nine modern events. At least nine features were identified which included elements of three of the five porches documented in historic records, a cistern at the southwest corner of the house, as well as stone and brick walks. While the tests were unable to confirm privy pits and cisterns at locations predicted from geophysical anomalies, elements of a small burned building was identified
at the proposed privy locations. Artifacts were found to be in abundance, especially in the back (west) yard with 2162 objects recovered overall. Functionally, the artifacts are associated with architectural, domestic, group services, and personal functions. One prehistoric item was recovered from a late 19th historic context had been brought into the site from an unknown location. A condition assessment of the site found it to be in good condition. The disturbance effect level at present is considered to be "Low" but the site is tlu'eatened by massive disturbance of archeological resources by the National Park Service during the partial razing and reconstruction of the Miller House. Without some mitigative action, the disturbance effect level could easily deteriorate to "Severe" or "Destroyed." The site was found to be eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion D.

林肯故居国家历史遗址（Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO）内的米勒故居遗址考古试掘工作，是响应美国国家公园管理局（National Park Service, NPS）将该故居修复重建至1860年左右原貌的计划而开展的。本次施工规模较大，存在造成大规模地面扰动的潜在可能。而该遗址经历史文献记载与小型考古调查已证实或潜在保存有完整堆积层，以及谷仓、蓄水池、水井、夏季厨房、步道等次生建筑与遗迹遗存。本次考古调查的核心目的，是获取为奎因·埃文斯建筑事务所（Quinn Evans/Architects, 2006年）编制的《历史建筑报告》（Historic Structures Report, HSR）完成所需的关键建筑信息。考古团队同时旨在厘清遗址所在地块内考古资源（地层、遗迹与遗物）的潜在范围与分布位置。本次调查的优先重点之一是「地面验证」（ground truthing），即确认史蒂夫·德沃尔（Steve DeVore）在遗址地球物理勘探中发现的异常区域的来源（De Yore 2006）。其中最为显著的是电导法与探地雷达（ground penetrating radar, OPR）勘探数据，结果显示住宅东南角附近疑似存在一处蓄水池，后院木板步道南侧紧邻两处疑似茅厕。本次发掘共布设6台挖掘机探沟与13个考古试掘方，发掘面积约25平方米。发掘结果显示，住宅后部的文化地层远比前部更为复杂，且埋藏深度也远大于前部。本次调查确认了遗址原地表位于90至97厘米深度处，共识别出25层文化堆积层，对应16个历史时段（约1858年至1920年代）与9处现代活动遗存。考古团队共识别出至少9处遗迹，其中包括历史文献记载的5处门廊中的3处的遗存、住宅西南角的一处蓄水池，以及石砌与砖砌步道。虽然本次试掘未能证实地球物理勘探异常区域所预测的茅厕坑与蓄水池的存在，但在推测的茅厕位置处，发现了一处小型焚毁建筑的遗存。遗址内遗物丰沛，尤其集中在后院（西侧），本次调查共回收2162件遗物。这些遗物按功能可分为建筑营建、家居日用、集体服务与个人随身相关四类。本次发掘还从一处19世纪晚期的历史堆积层中出土了1件史前遗物，该遗物系从未知地点被携入该遗址。对遗址的现状评估显示其保存状况良好。目前遗址的扰动程度被评为「低」，但美国国家公园管理局在对米勒故居进行部分拆除与重建的过程中，可能会对考古资源造成大规模扰动，从而威胁遗址安全。若不采取任何缓解措施，遗址扰动程度将极易恶化至「严重」甚至「完全损毁」等级。经评估，该遗址符合依据标准D申报《国家史迹名录》（National Register of Historic Places）的资格要求。