Preliminary Excavations at the Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home (9Ri432), Augusta, Georgia

Intensive archaeological testing and limited excavations of the Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home (9RI432) in Augusta, Georgia from fall 1991-spring 1993 resulted in the discovery of significant intact deposits located under the attached servants' quarters associated with the early decades of home occupancy, from 1859-ca.1885, as well as possible intact soil surfaces dating to the nineteenth century in the side yard and front yard. Intensive testing of the back yard indicates that any mid- to late nineteenth century deposits in this area associated with the Wilson occupancy or their immediate successors in the nineteenth century were destroyed sometime between the early twentieth century and cat 1975. Sources of the disturbance include the laying of sewer pipes immediately adjacent to the servants quarters, installation of a goldfish pond in the center of the back yard, construction of a patio and "greenhouse" and child's play house on the north yard boundary, and erosion/compacting of the driveway along the west boundary of the property. Possible nineteenth century soil surfaces were found in the side yard on the north of the property and the front yard margin on the east; however, with the exception of an eroded path which was filled with clean sand in the side yard, no walkways, flower bed edges, or other cultural features were noted. Intact builder's trenches were observed on the northeast corner of the main house; however, they had been truncated, and were largely sterile. Because of the disturbed nature of the back yard deposits, they are of limited utility for the reconstruction of mid- to late nineteenth century urban yardscapes. However, should either the play house or greenhouse be removed from the property, limited testing should be carried out in those areas in order to determine whether truncated features were sealed under the foundation slabs.