The archaeological survey was conducted by a two person crew consisting of the Field Director and a Research Assistant. Thirty meter interval shovel test transects were placed in the courtyard areas between the structures throughout John Hope Homes. A total of 44 transects were walked, the shortest containing two shovel tests, the longest with eight shovel tests. The transects were recorded on a 1939 general site plan of John Hope Homes and notes were recorded about the transects, individual shovel tests and observations of the study area.
Shovel tests were approximately 30 centimeters in diameter and were excavated using round nose shovels. The tests were excavated until subsoil (red clay) was reached. In most shovel tests, subsoil was exposed on the surface or lay just below the grass/humus layer. All excavated soils were screened through ¼ inch mesh hardware cloth for artifact recovery.
A site was to be defined by the presence of six or more pre-1940 artifacts from consecutive shovel tests or from within a 50 meter diameter surface area or by the presence of surface features, such as wells, chimney falls or house piers. Site boundaries would be defined by the excavation of two consecutive negative shovel tests or by the location of surface features and structures. According to this definition, no sites were located by the survey.
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