Locational Reconnaissance at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, Mentor, Lake County, Ohio

In July 1990, the Midwest Archeological Center and the Cleveland Museum of Natural
History, under the terms of a Cooperative Agreement, conducted archeological excavations at
the James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio. These investigations were
prompted by the proposed renovation of the Garfield horne and the relocation of the parking
lot. The investigations focused on five general areas: the main house, the carriage house and
gas works (or gas holder), the campaign office, the existing parking area, and the proposed
parking area.
Testing in the area of the main house revealed the presence of a builder's trench along
the foundation. These preliminary excavations did not, however, lend any additional insights
into the structural evolution of the house. Work behind the campaign office, on the other hand,
demonstrated that the substantial remains of a former structure, most likely an ice house, lie
just below the ground surface. Examination of the carriage house and gas works resulted in
the discovery of a deep foundation adjacent to the frame carriage house. This suggests the
possibility that an earlier version of the gas works was partially razed when the carriage house
was built, using its more substantial foundation.
Furthermore, significant archeological deposits were discovered beneath the stable floor.
Prehistoric occupation of the area is indicated by the discovery of a Whittlesey tradition
projectile point and several chert flakes in the area of the proposed parking lot. In light of the
significant subsurface archeological resources present at the James A. Garfield National
Historic Site, it is recommended that additional archeological excavation be undertaken, should
further restoration of the site require ground disturbance.

1990年7月，中西部考古中心（Midwest Archeological Center）与克利夫兰自然历史博物馆（Cleveland Museum of Natural History）依据合作协议条款，在俄亥俄州门托市的詹姆斯·A·加菲尔德国家历史遗址（James A. Garfield National Historic Site）开展考古发掘工作。本次调查缘起于加菲尔德故居的翻新计划与停车场迁移工程，共聚焦五大区域：主楼、马车房与燃气设施（或储气柜）、竞选办公室、现有停车场区域及规划停车场区域。
对主楼区域的勘探显示，地基沿线存在一条施工沟槽。不过此次初步发掘并未为该建筑的结构演变提供更多新认知。与之相对，对竞选办公室后方区域的发掘证实，地表之下埋藏有一处大概率为冰窖的前代建筑的大量遗存。
对马车房与燃气设施的勘探发现，紧邻木结构马车房存在一处深地基。这表明在建造马车房时，早期燃气设施的部分结构可能被拆除，并利用了其更为坚固的原有地基。
此外，研究团队在马厩地板下方发现了重要的考古堆积层。在规划停车场区域内出土的惠特尔斯塞文化（Whittlesey tradition）投射尖状器与若干燧石片，证实该区域曾有史前人类活动。
鉴于詹姆斯·A·加菲尔德国家历史遗址内蕴藏大量重要地下考古资源，本报告建议：若该遗址后续修复工程需开展地面扰动作业，则应启动补充考古发掘工作。