North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
Abstract/Summary:
Project Name: Sylvester Manor, NY;
Reference: Kvamme, K.L. (2001). Final Report of Geophysical Investigations Conducted at Sylvester Manor, Shelter Island, New York, 2000. ArcheoImaging Lab, Department of Anthropology and Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Submitted to the Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research, Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Kvamme, K.L. (2000). Preliminary Report of Geophysical Work Conducted at Sylvester Manor, Shelter Island, New York, 2000. ArcheoImaging Lab, Department of Anthropology and Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Submitted to the Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research, Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Boston.
A plantation established in 1651 by Nathaniel and Grizzell Sylvester to supply provisions for two sugar plantations in Barbados covered all of Shelter Island, a small island off the eastern tip of Long Island. Documentary and archaeological evidence reveals enslaved Africans, Native Americans, English and Dutch working at the plantation. A 250 acre core of the first plantation is known as Sylvester Manor today, which includes the circa 1735 manor house, Quaker and African burial grounds, cottages, farm buildings, and a large two acre garden. As part of Dr. Steve Mrozowski's (U Mass-Boston) on-going project at this site complex, geophysical investigations were performed to ascertain the nature and extent of buried cultural features. The results reveal a site of great complexity probably stemming from its importance as a center of major trade activity.
A host of linear and rectangular features are suggested by the resistance data. In general, numerous linear high resistance features are indicated that point to probable stone walls or foundation lines, pavements, or floors. The area to the west and north of the Manor is particularly rich in such features, suggestive of numerous former structures and constructions, built and organized with much regularity suggestive of an organized plan, almost like a small village. Warehouses and outbuildings are a distinct possibility. Some of the resistance highs to the southeast of the Manor, on the other hand, probably represent the outlines of former garden features or their organizational components. The data also reveal many former roads or trails as low resistance linear features.
The magnetic data suffer from the distribution of much modern ferrous material, such as iron stakes used to anchor tree-support wires (ndicated as triplets of data spikes in the magnetic data). The magnetic map also indicates a general distribution of ferrous artifacts, many of which are probably historic and can be located with accuracy using the map. One such large magnetic feature is an historic 17th century cannon, for example, that was excavated some years ago during property improvements. An area of particular interest magnetically is immediately to the north of the Manor where extremely noisy data are indicated, suggesting intensive activity and much iron, probably in the form of a midden or dumping ground. A number of linear alignments can also be seen in this area that may suggest the placement of more magnetic building stones or possible roadways or trails (the nature of some of these can be determined through a comparison against the resistance data).
Four specially placed GPR surveys were conducted at Sylvester Manor. One study block, measuring 9 x 15 m, was acquired in the west side of an "oval" driveway, adjacent to a 1999 excavation pit. The results are suggest the future promise of GPR data at this site. In a near-surface "slice" through the GPR transects (depth about 20-40 cm) a rectangular feature is indicated, possibly a pavement, foundation, old roadway, or rectangular ditch, etc.