Fairfield Plantation

Fairfield Plantation. Ash Pit, Clay Borrow Pit and Fence Line. A vast amount of information has been found in this area concerning the evolution and layout of Fairfield Plantation. In the summer of 2001, archaeologists discovered an ash pit, clay borrow pit, and a fence line. The late 17th-century ash pit was a shallow hole refilled with wood ash and early artifacts including a wrought iron butterfly hinge, a 1580/1581 English silver six pence, and locally made tobacco pipe fragments. This feature is likely related to an earlier house of Lewis Burwell II. The clay borrow pit was dug to obtain clay for making bricks around 1720, perhaps for the addition to the manor house, or other outbuilding. Shortly after the removal of clay, the pit was refilled with bricks discarded from the kiln, an abundance of broken wine bottles, and other items common on early 18th-century plantations. Marked by the line of posts in front of you is a small portion of historic fenceline. The fence was built with six inch square wooden posts set in holes approximately two feet square and spaced eight feet apart. This fence line corresponds with a road drawn on a 1781 French reconnaissance leading from Burwell's Mill, across the field from your left, and continuing southwest towards Carter Creek. , (caption) , Left Top: 17th-century ash pit. , Left Center: Clay borrow pit excavation. , Left Bottom: Typical post hole and mold from the fence line , Center: Overview of excavation area; fence line (left center to top right), clay borrow pit (bottom center), 17th-century ash pit (top center) , Right: Excavation units uncovering the path of the fenceline.