While performing excavations in the Mansion cellar, the Archaeological team uncovered evidence of two historic postholes, found in proximity to the dry well located directly beneath the New Room. A large cylindrical pit, the 22-foot-deep dry well was built to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the year, allowing for the storage of ice harvested from the Potomac River by enslaved workers.
It’s believed that the two postholes were likely part of a winch or support system. This support system might have been used during the dry well’s construction, as a means of hoisting dirt, but it probably served a second purpose—loading and unloading ice into the well.
Above: Archaeology Technician Olivia Larson documents a posthole feature next to the dry well (protective wood housing on the left) in the Mansion cellar. (MVLA)
