lancaster

Washington County

Site Name:

Ashmore Farm Site (36 Wh 675)

Borough, Township:

South Strabane Township

Author:

Beverly Chiarulli

Representing:

Archaeological Services,
Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Date of Site:

Middle and Late Woodland (A.D.1300-1400)

Project Sponsor:

Pennsylvania Bureau for Historic Preservation

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The Ashmore Farm Site primarily dates to the Late Woodland period and was occupied by a group known to archaeologists as the Monongahela. These people lived in many villages in southwestern Pennsylvania before the arrival of European settlers, but were gone by A.D.1630. They lived in villages formed of small houses arranged in a circle with an open plaza in the center and grew corn, beans, and squash. They made shell-tempered pottery and used bows and arrows tipped with small triangular points.
The Ashmore Farm site was invetigated prior to the construction of a shopping mall. More than 165 prehistoric features were excavated at the site including oval post-lined pits like the one at the top of the page. This feature contained fragments of freshwater mussel shell, a ceramic pipe, shell beads, pottery fragments, elk and deer bones and charcoal which was dated to A.D. 1350.

Features were also found that dated to an earlier period of occupation. This large firepit contained a Middle Woodland projectile point and fragments of thick Middle Woodland pottery. At least three house patterns were identified at the site.
Most surprisingly, the features contained nutshells, fishbones and scales, and well preserved faunal remains from elk, deer, racoon, fox, squirrel, rabbit and large birds, possibly wild turkeys. However, only one fragment of corn was recovered.

Washington County
Site Name:	Ashmore Farm Site (36 Wh 675)
Borough, Township:	South Strabane Township
Author:	Beverly Chiarulli
Representing:	Archaeological Services, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Date of Site:	Middle and Late Woodland (A.D.1300-1400)
Project Sponsor:	Pennsylvania Bureau for Historic Preservation
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The Ashmore Farm Site primarily dates to the Late Woodland period and was occupied by a group known to archaeologists as the Monongahela. These people lived in many villages in southwestern Pennsylvania before the arrival of European settlers, but were gone by A.D.1630. They lived in villages formed of small houses arranged in a circle with an open plaza in the center and grew corn, beans, and squash. They made shell-tempered pottery and used bows and arrows tipped with small triangular points. The Ashmore Farm site was invetigated prior to the construction of a shopping mall. More than 165 prehistoric features were excavated at the site including oval post-lined pits like the one at the top of the page. This feature contained fragments of freshwater mussel shell, a ceramic pipe, shell beads, pottery fragments, elk and deer bones and charcoal which was dated to A.D. 1350. Features were also found that dated to an earlier period of occupation. This large firepit contained a Middle Woodland projectile point and fragments of thick Middle Woodland pottery. At least three house patterns were identified at the site. Most surprisingly, the features contained nutshells, fishbones and scales, and well preserved faunal remains from elk, deer, racoon, fox, squirrel, rabbit and large birds, possibly wild turkeys. However, only one fragment of corn was recovered.