ARCHEOLOGY
AT OLD
DAVIDSONVlLLE
STATE PARK:
EARLY 1800s
LIFE ON THE
-BLACK RIVER '
T
e town of Davidsonville, platted in 1815 wathe earliest planned community in Arkansas
Territory.It served as the county seat for Lawrence
County and as a bustling community center. Situated on
the banks of the Black River, the town boasted a brick
courthouse, a government land office, stores, private
residences, a cotton gin, several inns and a public ferry
across the river. In 1829the county seat moved to Jackson
in the Batesville district, and the following year Davidsonville was abandoned. Davidsonville is one of many
early Arkansas towns that seemingly disappearedwithout
a trace. In reality, it was a victim of progress and movement of EuroAmerican settlers westward. Only archival
records, including the original plat of the town lots,
survive as visible evidence of the town's existence.
WHY DO ARCHEOLOGY?
Last year, the Arkansas Archeological Survey
(AAS) was asked by the Arkansas Department of Parks
and Tourism to begin a program of archeological and
geophysical investigations to herp better int6@ret the
town's history for visitors. The Survey had provided
expertise in the past to assist with the development of
exhibits in the Visitor's Center and interpretive signs at
the townsite. The goals of the current research are to
provide more detailed information on the exact locations of the courthouse, post office, and two of the
historical streets bounding the public square. Since no
above-groundevidence of any buildings remains at Old
Davidsonville, a variety of scientific techniques of historical archeologywere used to discover answers to our
questions about life on the Black River in the early
nineteenth century.
Since Davidsonville was a county seat, it appears
in historical documents. So, what can historical archeology and geophysical study (also called remotesenring)
tell us that we don't already know? Actually, much that
occurred in the past does not appear in historical accounts. Ordinary life was often not considered worth
recording. Through remote sensing and archeology we
can discover these unrecorded parts of the past.
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REMOTE SENSING
Three geophysical remote sensing techniques were
used at Old Davidsonville by the U S : magnetometry,
electrical resistivity and electromagnetic conductivity.
These techniques can be used to record the physical
properties of archeological deposits, such as roads and
building foundations, without disturbing the ground
surface. This allows us to choose the best places to excavate to find the kinds of structures and artifacts we are
looking for.
Magnetometry surveys measure small variations
in the earth's magnetic properties. They are useful for
locating features that have been dug and refded and
for finding clay, brick, hearths, houses and kilns.
Another productive method--electrical resistivity-also
depends on the physical properties of the soil. The
remains of building foundations and the differences in
compaction of historic streets are commonly detected
using resistivity. Electromagneticconductivitymeasures
the varying electrical and magnetic properties of soils.
Magnetometry and electrical resistivity were both
used at Old Davidsonville in April 2004. Both techniques indicated anomalies (unusual patterns) that
indicate building foundations or debris are present
beneath the ground surface. They also showed the signatures of two streets bracketing the public square where
the courthouse stood.
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FIELD ARCHEOLOGY
The purpose of historical archeology is not to find
antiques or treasures. Instead, historical archeologists
seek to discover facts that are not recorded in historical
documents, such as books, legal documents, letters, or
maps in order to provide a more complete picture of
the past. We attempt to understand how people lived
in the past by studylng what they left behind. What did
houses and public buildings look like?How did people
make a living? How were they connected to the wider
world? These are the kinds of questions archeologists
ask as they excavate a site like Davidsonville.
We used the results of geophysical remote sensing
to locate our excavation units where they would be the
most productive. Three units measuring about 6 % x 6
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%fi?&& & ! ~ ~ 1 3 a v a t & a t t h e 1 ~ ~ a T & 0 d 0 f
the two-story brick courthouse. We found three corners
of the courthouse, in varying states of preservation. The
building appears to have measured 24 feet by 32 feet.
At the post master's house, excavation units were placed
either side of the chimney fall and near the southeastern
corner of the structure. Here we also had positive results, finding two foundation corners, remains of a
builder's trench, and lots of household artifacts like fragments of dishes, a knife, pieces of a wine bottle, buttons,
window panes, shutter hardware, and pork bones. Like
the courthouse, the foundation of the post master's
house was made using dolomite (limestone) blocks.
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An intact trash pit was also located and excavate(
last year. It is quite significant because it includes a
variety of artifacts that might have been used in a tavern.
They were either thrown away because they were
broken, or perhaps there was a fire, and the burnec
rubble was pushed into a hole and buried. We now havc
a sample of a range of the kinds of everyday items used
such as early tea wares, cutlery with bone handles
thimbles, glass beads, spurs,buttons, coins, musket ball,
and lots of food bones. Many of these items are un
broken, allowing us to determine the place of origin
They are also unusually well preserved.
These objects tell us that Davidsonville was con
nected to larger cities in the region and that the tow
was prosperous. Since the town existed for only abou
15 years, the building foundation remains and artifact
were not disturbed by later construction. The artifact
found in the trash pit, therefore, were in their origina
position, undisturbed since they were placed there.
We have just begun to examine the artifacts anc
other information collected at Old Davidsonville las
year. The artifactswill be washed, sorted and numbered
They, along with our observations from the excavations
will be documented in a report for State Parks. Ther
are also maps and historical documents to be checkec
for pertinent information. We anticipate returning ct
the park later this year for more excavations, so stti
tuned for updates!
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The theme for Arkansas Archeology Month 200
is "Life On The Riyers." One of the central reasons fc
the settlement of the town of Davidsonville was th
Black River. The river not only was a transportatio
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route moving people to and from the town, it was also
a means by which supplies and goods arrived. The river
was also home to water fowl and game that were hunted
for food and clothing. Keel boats made trips to and from
New Orleans and Memphis bringing salt, sugar, guns
and powder to Davidsonville in exchange for wild game,
bear grease and furs. The river was also a factor in
~avidsonville'sdemise since spring flooding often
isolated its residents.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To find out about the past in your area, you can get
ch with your local archeologist. The Arkansas
ological Survey has an archeologist at most state
universities, at Toltec and Parkin state parks and at the
Blytheville Aeroplex. The AAS Coordinating Office is
located in Fayetteville. For information on the Survey's
n Arkansas' archeological heritage, and on
materials for school use. check our web site.
b become actively involved-in preserving the
state s heritage,join the Arkansas Archeological Society
(same address as above). The Society is open to anyone
. who is interested in archeology. Paying a modest annual
membership fee gets you the Society's bimonthly news- . letter, the annual bulletin, and use of the lending library.
There are local chapters which have monthly meetings,
. field trips, and opportunities to work on archeological
' projects. The Society also has an annual conference and
Training Program open to all its members.
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Majwbndingfbr this research was prowOWdedby the
A r k a m Natural and Cultural Resources Council,
with additional suppovrjom Arkansas State Parks.
Arkansas Archeological Survey
2475 N.Hatch Avenue
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72704
479-575-3556
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