This years excavations at Waterwild Farm were conducted with the fourth and seventh grade classes from Sayre School in Lexington, Kentucky. We continued our exploration of the backyard, opening eight new units and revisiting one unit left open for display purposes from the previous year.

This years excavation uncovered two stone foundations. One foundation was associated with a structure believed to be the smokehouse. The other is to a structure not encountered in previous excavations. That unit was left open this year for display to the public. Excavation of this unit and those surrounding it are slated for next years “dig”.

This years exciting find came from a unit that had been started with last years Sayre students. At the end of last years excavation archaeologists knew it was a cellar feature. Last years excavation ended in a level full of mortar and plaster, as well as, artifacts dating to the anti-bellum period. This years students continued through this thick layer of clay mixed with mortar and plaster. The layer beneath was 55 cm thick and contained a heavy concentration of ash, charcoal and artifacts from the early to mid-nineteenth century when the Offutt family ran a very prosperous and diverse farm. After encountering another layer of plaster students found the cellar floor, which was limestone bedrock located 1.5 meters from the surface of the excavation. After discussing our finds and the location of the building, students and archaeologists came to the conclusion it was most likely the external or summer kitchen. It is also probable this structure housed the kitchen and house servants. Further excavations hope to locate the hearth and other features associated with this structure.