Agricultural Archaeology

Learn more about Pennsylvania Agriculture through our Agricultural History Project

Throughout its history, Pennsylvania has boasted a rich legacy of agriculture. Today, agriculture remains among the Commonwealth's leading industries. And not entirely unlike today, farming during the eighteenth century concentrated on grains such as wheat, rye, and oats that were routinely processed into flour by water-powered gristmills built along streams. Distilleries for converting grains to alcohol were also common. In the latter half of the nineteenth century agriculture shifted from grains to mixed dairy agriculture, including both cattle and other livestock, and the crops necessary to feed them. And farming became increasingly mechanized with the development of new horse-powered implements. As the benefit of applying lime to agricultural fields was discovered, the production of lime by burning limestone in kilns evolved into another key industry.

19th-century farmsteads are one of the most common historic archaeological sites in Pennsylvania. Many have been excavated, uncovering artifacts rich with information on lifestyles and the economic status of households. For example, archaeology has determined that ordinary, decorated and distinctive tableware and household ornaments such as clocks or mirrors reflect the status of the farm family. Such items assist in interpreting consumer behavior - that is whether farm households purchased goods manufactured in cities or overseas or whether they relied only on local markets. And to better understand how farmers utilized landscapes and disposed of waste, archaeologists examine the distribution of artifacts around farmsteads. Intriguing, though perhaps not surprising, findings are that agricultural lifestyles were heavily influenced by ethnic traditions. For example, archaeology has helped to verify the notion that distinct differences remained evident in the organization of barnyards and the disposal of artifacts between Scotch-Irish and German farms.

Agriculture was supported by a variety of small industries including mills, tanneries, and blacksmith shops. To more closely examine a specific supporting industry, excavations were conducted at the Philipsburg Tannery in Centre County, sponsored by PennDOT as part of the U.S. Route 322 Bypass Project. The tannery operated from 1870 to 1903, processing cow hides into shoe leather using chemicals from the bark of oak and hemlock trees. Excavations revealed the structural remains of the tannery building including vats, wooden drains for transporting tanning fluids, and stone foundations. Artifacts included vat plugs, ceramics, and pieces of leather. Such information is vital to reconstructing and interpreting the layout of a tannery, and how the tanning process evolved.

Photo: Section of Archaeology Collections, Courtesy of AD Marble
Excavation of a tannery box drain

In another example, while constructing the Gray's Landing Lock and Dam, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discovered the well-preserved timber foundation of the Gallatin saw mill uncovered beneath 14 feet of silt along Georges Creek in Fayette County. The mill was built in 1795 and a water-powered turbine was added in the 1830s. The Corps of Engineers chose to preserve the site for future archaeological investigation and research by covering the foundation with plastic and reburying it. Such an effort demonstrates the value of preserving important locales.

PennDot also sponsored archaeological investigations at the Irwin Site, part of a small rural community formed around a saw mill in Clearfield County. Archaeological excavations uncovered foundations and artifacts from the Ellis Irwin house and a nearby blacksmith shop. Many of the tools used in the shop remained in the building when it was abandoned and provided important clues regarding the work performed at the site. For example, tongs —used to hold hot metal and fullers, used to shape the metal were discovered. Other blacksmith tools found at the site included a mandrel, a cone-shaped tool used to make circular rings, a clamp, file, and chisel. Horseshoes were also found, totaling 335 fragments in all. The western end of the excavation revealed remnants of a post that held the blacksmith's anvil, as well as the door to the main stove. Ceramic cups and plates were uncovered, indicating that the shop housed a social area perhaps utilized by customers awaiting repairs. Archaeological studies have demonstrated that, typically, the size of blacksmith shops is related to location, access to transportation, the number of working smiths, and the size of the population served. This pattern was supported by the Irwin Site, a relatively small shop that served a small community.

Photo: Section of Archaeology Collections
Tools and horseshoes from the Irwin site blacksmith shop