In the final days of an archaeological dig in Springfield, 20 students helped uncover the foundations of the William Townsend House, the pioneer home he built upon his arrival in the region in 1832.
Missouri State University archaeologists have discovered the foundation of an interior wall of the homestead.
The discovery of William Townsend's house was the result of a three-week field school organized by the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at Missouri State University. A group of 20 undergraduate students, supervised by two archaeologists, gained hands-on experience in surveying and excavation.
According to Missouri State University, excavations at the McKenzie-Townsend site have been conducted previously, once in 2008 and again in 2012. Those studies found some evidence of a nearby residence, including Civil War-era buttons and 19th-century pottery.
Kevin Kupka Head, director of CAR, noted that he “wasn’t entirely confident that we would find anything significant” during the three-week excavation session. Indeed, it wasn’t until the third week that they made the astonishing discovery.
The team was able to uncover the foundations of William Townsend's house, which archaeologists believe was built around the 1830s. It is one of the earliest homesteads found on the site.
Archaeologists have discovered a 3-metre-long fragment of the foundation of an internal wall of the estate. The team also found nails, indicating the use of wooden floorboards in the house.
In addition, near the foundation, the researchers found ash, ceramics and other remains that they believed could have been debris that had fallen into the cracks of the wooden floor.
“It's remarkable. It's rare to find places that have survived this long and are so intact,” Head said. “It gives you a glimpse into everyday life in Springfield before the war.”
Indeed, very few buildings from that era remain. As Head told the Springfield News-Leader, such finds are rare in the area.
Why William Townsend's House Holds a Special Place in Missouri History
Sourse: www.allthatsinteresting.com
