Alterman, Michael L., Mark A. Bower, John H. Sprinkle, M. Todd Cleveland, Linda J. Ferguson, and Jill Cremer

1993

Historical and Archaeological Resources Technical Study, Delaware Turnpike Improvements Project Phase I Analysis: Delaware Turnpike Service Area to the Christiana Interchange, New Castle County, Delaware.

Prepared by Rummel, Klepper, & Kahl, with The Cultural Resource Group, Louis Berger & Associates, Inc.; and Kise, Franks, & Straw. Delaware Department of Transportation Archaeology Series No. 121.

The purpose of the cultural resource study detailed in DelDOT Archaeology Series No. 121 was the identification of historic properties and archaeological sites along a stretch of the Delaware Turnpike between the Delaware Turnpike Service Center and the Christiana Interchange. The report includes a general prehistory and history for the project area and the region, and an assessment of the archaeological sensitivity within the project area. The investigation consisted of background research and a field visit.

The study identified 30 historic properties in the general project area. These were verified and videotaped in the field. Eight of these properties had already been evaluated as historically or architecturally important, including: 180 Welsh Tract Road, the Welsh Tract Baptist Church and Parsonage, Cooch's Bridge Historic District, 239 Chestnut Hill Road, 191 Chapman Road, the Thomas Montgomery House, the Lewis Weldin Farmhouse, and the Henry L. Churchman House.

Pomeroy and Beers 1868 Map with Delaware Turnpike corridor overlay

Archaeological fieldwork was limited to a vehicular survey of selected areas to delineate those that had been disturbed and were unlikely to contain intact archaeological sites. Five archaeological sites had previously been identified within the project area. However, the researchers concluded that only two would be potentially affected by the proposed project. Site 7NC-E-1 is described as a large site with Archaic (6500 BC - 3000 BC), Woodland I (3000 BC - AD 1000), and Woodland II (AD 1000 - AD 1650) prehistoric occupations. Collections from the site include ceramics, groundstone tools, soapstone, numerous projectile points, and other flaked stone tools. The site has been described as a series of separate occupations within a large area surrounded by swamps. Site 7NC-E-58 was described as a site where cobbles were worked to remove excess material in preparation for the manufacture of stone tools.