Search

This report describes an archaeological survey undertaken as part of proposals for new tertiary wastewater treatment facilities at Fort Dix and the McGuire Air Force Base, in parts of New Hanover and Pemberton Townships, Burlington County, New Jersey. The project involves construction or stockpiling of materials on a total of approximately 150 acres, disposed in five separate locations, and the placement of a new force main along about 5.25 miles of new alignment. Background research for the project entailed visits to archaeological data banks, a review of the extensive survey of Fort Dix undertaken in 1985 and other secondary sources, and analysis of aerial photographic data. Field survey involved a walkover of the entire project area, and the excavation of 627 shovel tests. The shovel testing program recovered a small quantity of historic material, the bulk of it from the site of the town of Pointville, a community which developed in the early 19th century and was razed c.1940. No prehistoric materials were encountered. Field investigation located two historic farmstead sites in the southwestern part of the project area. A supplementary program of investigation was undertaken at Pointville after completion of the initial survey. A backhoe was used to test for the location and to establish the archaeological integrity of the Cherry Valley Tavern/Pointville Hotel. The site was found to be well preserved, with substantial foundations and a prolific artifact deposit of the first half of the 19th century. Detailed examination of the east side of Texas Avenue at Pointville located the probable sites of the mid 19th century church, a house and other features, probably of 20th century date. The Cherry Valley Tavern/Pointville Hotel Site [28-BU-413] is considered to be a significant resource, eligible for Pinelands Designation, and for inclusion in the State and Federal Registers. Options are presented for mitigating the impact of the force main project on this site through a program of archaeological data recovery, or alternatively to avoid the site by a revison to the alignment. The archaeological integrity of the site of Pointville as a whole remains unclear, but it is recommended that a program of archaeological monitoring should be undertaken during force main construction here, accompanied by minor revisions to the alignment to avoid the cemetery area. The two farmstead sites will be excluded from the project impact area and no additional actions are required at this time to protect them.