A Tale of Two Cisterns: Data Recovery Investigation at 31NH684, New Hanover County, North Carolina

Data recovery investigations were conducted for proposed development by Landmark Organization, Inc. in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. Research centered on the excavation and sampling of two brick cisterns at site 31NH684. Initial work consisted of the excavation of 15 square meters in the form of a 3 by 5 square meter unit, later expanded to include a previously undiscovered cistern. Approximately two-thirds of Cistern 1 was excavated, while Cistern 2 was sampled with a 50 square centimeter unit and core samples. Archaeological evidence and historical research indicate that the cisterns were built simultaneously, sometime between 1840 and 1915. Deed research supports a tighter date range of between 1875 and 1890, and suggests the builder to have been a resident named J.F. King. The data recovery project contributed not only site-specific data, but information applicable to other historic sites. Excavations and research generated and gathered together a broad body of knowledge concerning cistern history, construction, usage, and abandonment. It is hoped that this data will provide a useful foundation for further archaeological work on historic sites with similar features.为配合北卡罗来纳州威尔明顿市中心地标组织有限公司（Landmark Organization, Inc.）的拟议开发项目，本次开展了考古数据回收调查工作。研究核心为对31NH684遗址处两座砖砌蓄水池的发掘与取样。初期发掘采用3米×5米的探方，发掘面积共计15平方米，后续拓展发掘范围，纳入了一座此前未被发现的蓄水池。其中1号蓄水池约三分之二的区域得到发掘，2号蓄水池则通过50平方厘米的取样探方与岩心取样完成了采样工作。 考古证据与历史研究表明，两座蓄水池建于同期，建造时间大致介于1840年至1915年之间。而产权契据考证进一步将年代范围缩窄至1875年至1890年，并推测建造者为一位名为J.F.金的居民。本次数据回收项目不仅获取了该遗址专属的一手资料，还提供了可适用于其他历史遗址的通用研究信息。本次发掘与研究工作整理并形成了一套关于蓄水池的历史沿革、建造工艺、使用方式与废弃过程的系统知识体系。本项目期望该套数据可为后续针对同类特征历史遗址的考古研究提供坚实的基础支撑。