PHYTOLITH ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES FROM GARDEN SPACES WITHIN THE CARRIAGE TURNAROUND IN FRONT OF THOMAS JEFFERSON’S POPLAR FOREST RETREAT HOUSE, BEDFORD, VIRGINIA

Outside of the city of Lynchburg, Virginia, Thomas Jefferson constructed his Poplar Forest retreat house near the center of his Bedford County plantation in 1806. A large carriage turnaround in front of the north side of the main octagonal portion of the house, as well as the surrounding five acres of grounds, were planted with ornamental landscaping. A circular road lined with trees bounded the property. Archaeological investigations of the turnaround have exposed various features associated with the Jefferson-era gardening, as well as modifications possibly associated with the Hutter family around 1855. Soil samples collected from the center of the turnaround were submitted for phytolith analysis to provide additional information on the ornamentals planted and to possibly identify elements of the landscape design.