Archaeologists from Gnomon, Inc. and Statistical Research, Inc. excavated the Half Way House archaeological site in December, 2007. The Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the Virginia and Truckee Railway funded the excavation. Its purpose was to salvage archaeological information from a portion of the Half Way House site which was going to be destroyed by construction of the V&T railroad bridge crossing US Highway 50.
A number of buildings, corrals, and other structures made up the original Half Way House, but the remains of these features were safely outside the construction zone, and would not be affected by work on the bridge. The excavation was limited to an area somewhat removed from these structures, but it included concentrations of surface artifacts, additional buried artifacts, and small trash pits. (Photos courtesy Gnomon, Inc. and Statistical Research, Inc.)
Figure 1 Below:
Surface artifacts, including fragments of green champagne or wine bottles.
The surface artifacts were spread across a considerable area, and the buried material was no more than 10-40 centimeters (4-16 inches) deep. The archaeologists excavated an expansive area in order to encompass as many of the artifacts as possible. They eventually dug more than 130 square meters (1400 square feet) and recovered thousands of artifacts, ranging from small glass and metal fragments to complete bottles, butchered animal bones, and personal items. The archaeological study focused on what these broken, lost, or discarded artifacts could tell us about life at Half Way House.
Figure 2 Below:
Excavation began in one meter squares. The frames help the excavators align the excavation units.
Figure 3 Below:
The excavation expanded as more artifacts were uncovered. Soil was sifted to recovery even the smallest items, using the shaker screens in the foreground.
TIME
The Half Way House artifacts date from about 1860 to the early 1900s, just as expected. This spans the most important period for the way station, from its founding in 1860 to construction of the Virginia and Truckee in 1869. The railroad took over most of the Comstock’s freight business, and turned the toll roads and stations like Half Way House into minor players in the transportation system. Some artifacts, like coins, come with a date stamped on them. (This provides the earliest date. Coins remain in circulation for years, and can end up in archaeological sites at any point in their use life.) Other items, like bottles, ceramics, and some metal cans, are stamped with maker’s marks. These name the company which manufactured the container, or its contents, and historic research can establish when these companies were in business. The technology used in manufacturing artifacts—bottles and tin cans for example—also changes through time.
Figure 4 Below:
1862 half-dollar, minted in San Francisco undoubtedly from Comstock silver, and an 1867 fifty cent piece.
Figure 5 Below:
“F. Brown’s Jamaica Ginger,” dating from as early as 1850.
Figure 6 Below:
“Applied” finish. The mouth of this bottle was formed separately and then attached to the body of the bottle. This is characteristic of mold-blown bottles manufactured throughout the 1800s. The wire attachment secured the stopper.
PEOPLE
Specialized artifacts, such as toys or personal items, address basic questions about who lived at Half Way House. Were there families? How old were they? What gender? We know children lived at Half Way House, because they left behind several broken pieces of china dolls, a toy ceramic figurine, and two marbles. These artifacts are especially valuable because they expand upon the written historic record. Robert Fulstone’s memoir and the Territorial Census tell us Half Way House was a family operation. Fulstone mentions the toll keeper and how he housed his family at the way station. Residents of Half Way House listed in the 1862 Territorial Census come from several different families. They range up to 33 years of age and one of them, Mary Morior, is a five-year-old. Of course, there is no way of knowing whether the dolls belonged to Mary, but they add a tangible element to the written record. They confirm the fact that children were present, and add a fascinating detail: now we know what kind of toys they played with.
Figure 7 Below:
China dolls, and ceramic figurine.
LIFE
The artifacts which make up the archaeological record at Half Way House represent the foods and beverages people consumed and the things they used in the course of daily life. Bottle fragments—and a few complete bottles—comprised a considerable percentage of the artifacts. Alcohol was a mainstay at the way stations, and according to Robert Fulstone the bar at Half Way House was well-known for its hospitality. The analysis of the beverage bottles shows Half Way House offered an extraordinary range of choices. A wine bottle stamped “ED PERNOD” was imported from Couvet, Switzerland, and at least one “CHARLES LONDON CORDIAL GIN” bottle and three bottles of “LONDON JOCKEY CLUBHOUSE GIN” came from England. There was brandy from France, imported by Louis Taussig & Co, (an importer and wholesale liquor merchant operating in San Francisco beginning in 1856). A fragment of a ceramic mineral water bottle bore the imprint of a circled, standing lion and lettering indicating it was from the Royal Prussian springs in Nassau, Germany. Customers knew about and desired an international selection of beverages. Half Way House—little more than a wide spot in the road—was part of an international trading network which could deliver products to consumers from half a world away.
Figure 8 Below:
Alcohol and ginger-flavoring bottles.
Figure 9 Below: Ceramic German mineral water bottle.
Diet, another important aspect of everyday life, is revealed not only from what went into meals, but from leftovers. It turned out the excavation area, which was away from the main structures, included evidence of what went into meals and how the uneaten remains were disposed of. The excavators found more than 2200 bones and bone fragments. More than half were small, unidentifiable pieces, but 951 were identifiable. They included cow, sheep, pig, mule deer, small mammal, fish, and domestic chicken bones. Cow, sheep and mule deer were most numerous. The analysis of these faunal remains showed—for beef and venison—all parts of the animal had been used. There was no preference at Half Way House for only quality cuts, as might be found in an expensive or high class establishment. This also indicates the animals were butchered on site, since commercially purchased beef would include numerous examples of the most popular cuts, and few if any bones from less desirable parts of the animal. Foot elements—probably pickled or cured “pigs feet”—were the most common pork bone, and leg bones—leg of lamb—were the most frequent sheep remains. Many of the bones were found packed together in small pits, along with bottle fragments and other discarded items. The question of what to do with small amounts of perishable, and potentially odiferous leftovers was answered by taking them outside, digging a small hole, and burying them.
Figure 10 Below:
Broken bottles and bone fragments in a small pit feature.
Figure 11 Below:
Trash pit filled with butchered bone.
The excavation also recovered a large sample of the infinite variety of personal items which are lost, broken, or discarded over the years. These included such things as a clay tobacco pipe fragment, glass beads, a silver-plated pocket watch, and a small, hand-held musical instrument called a “jaw harp.” Writing implements, possibly for toll station record keeping, included a pen point and fragments of ink bottles. Two pieces of movable type, a small “h” and an upper case “S,” were also found. No other evidence of publishing was found, so the letters probably just indicate someone at the site was a typesetter.
The archaeological investigation of Half Way House takes our understanding of this Comstock Era way station to a level of detail beyond the reach of history books. Limited as it was, the excavation gives us a picture of Half Way House—who lived there, what they ate and drank, and what their lives were like—which can be compared with archaeological data from other sites and way stations to build our overall knowledge of Nevada’s nineteenth century toll road network. Equally important, this work forms a solid foundation for future archaeology in the as yet unexplored portions of Half Way House.
Figure 12 Below:
Penpoint (found with prongs bent).
Figure 13 Below.
Tobacco pipe stem.
