Archaeological Resource Study and Clearance for the Discovery Center Project at the Henry House, Manassas National Battlefield Park

This report documents archeological excavation at the Henry House site (44PW293) in Prince William County, Virginia, at Manassas National Battlefield Park The site is located on Henry Hill, south of the Warrenton Turnpike (Route 29), and east of Sud ley Road (Figure 1). Presently, the site contains the Henry House and an outbuilding to the north of the house. A Virginia rail fence defines the yard space around the house. The Henry Hill Monument surrounded by a rail fence is located in the east yard of the house and the Henry family cemetery is found in the west yard. A lane to the Henry House enters from the west at Sudley Mill Road. Another historic road trace connecting the property to Rock Road still exists in some areas. Several trees and shrubs are standing within the immediate yard area. The objectives of the investigation were twofold. Archeological testing was performed in areas of potential effect associated with restoration of the historic house and outbuilding for adaptive use as a Discovery Center. Areas slated for ground disturbance were investigated for archeological resources to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended. This project also enabled archeologists to conduct primary source research and excavate in the area closely surrounding the house with the goal of identifying features associated with the Henry House, as well as the earlier Spring Hill Farm, and analyzing artifacts associated with the site's occupation. Archeological fieldwork was conducted in October, November and May of2002. Eleven excavation units (EUs) were completed around the exterior of the extant Henry House. The placement of the first several EUs was basedon information gathered during previous excavations performed by the Harpers Ferry Archeology Program from May-June 2001. During the previous excavations, remnants of a stone foundation were documented, extending from the exterior southwest corner of the Henry House. Unidentified stone features were also recorded along the east elevation of the house. Several architectural features associated with the Spring Hill Farm house were uncovered during the current investigation. These features include portions of a chimney on the north elevation (east side of extant Henry House), the southwest, southeast, and northeast foundation corners, and sections of the south foundation wall. Another feature recorded is a gravel deposit along the south side of the Henry House possibly representing a drip-line from the Spring Hill Farm house or historic fill. An unidentified brick feature near the southwest foundation corner of the Spring Hill Farm house is also documented. This landscape feature is believed to be associated with the early 20th-century occupation of the site. Artifacts were systematically collected across the site with a diagnostic range of prehistoric through National Park Service-era. Of note are several types of 18th-century English ceramic sherds, commemorative coins/tokens, Civil War ammunitions, and a quantity of colonoware pottery, which in the past has been associated with both Native Americans and enslaved Africans. Numerous prehistoric projectile points were also collected on the site.

Archaeological Resource Study and Clearance for the Discovery Center Project at the Henry House, Manassas National Battlefield Park

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