M.U.C.A.P. 2025 Season Presentation and Recap
Miami University Archaeology Project
Embedded Files
Research Team
Research Team
M.U.C.A.P. 2025 Dig Team
M.U.C.A.P. 2025 Dig Team
ATH 416
Dr. Jeb Card
Dr. Jeb Card
Anthropology Department
Background
Background
The 2025 MUCAP season continued investigation of a structure previously the subject of MUCAP field sessions in 2023 and 2021.
The site is located on Miami University’s Oxford campus, south of the McGuffey House and Museum, at the intersection of Spring Street and Oak Street. Historical records suggested the presence of a structure, possibly residential, at this location, but gave scant information. MUCAP research has potentially narrowed the site to the early 20th century as a mixed use carriage house and residence, and the possible identity of the inhabitant.
Methods
Methods
Units were located using GPS and data from past excavation seasons. In aiming for the 2023 season units, we instead located the 2021 units.
Six units were opened in a checkerboard pattern.
Students used trowels, shovels, brushes, and shifting screens, working in 10cm levels or by notable change in conditions.
Measurements, finds, soil characteristics, and general notes were all documented on level sheets by each unit. These were then brought together to build a broader site stratigraphy and characterization in the style of a Harris matrix.
Lab analysis included washing, weighing, labeling, observing, and researching artifacts and context to build a picture of the site and activities.
Discussion
Discussion
The excavation revealed a number of diagnostic artifacts from the early 20th century as well as architectural evidence for an outbuilding on the edge of the McGuffey house plot. We have determined that this structure was likely a carriage house or stable related to the Beard House. We believe it to have been previously inhabited by an elderly matriarch of the Beard family, Mary Louisa Beard.
The Beard House was built in 1903. Based on its presence in photos in the 1940s and subsequent disappearance in USGS maps, the house was likely demolished sometime between 1956 and 1956 (Card et al. 2023, USGS Survey). Coins found in the 2023, dating to the 1920s and the 1940s, support the Beard House identification and use in the first half of the 10th century. A medical tube clamp from the 2023 excavation was patented in 1907, further supporting this identification.
Future Research
Future Research
Future Special interest should be given to architectural elements, such as the wooden beam bisecting Unit Charlie, the door and wall hinges from Unit Bravo, and the bricks found adjacent to one another, perhaps indicating wall structures.
One major thing we should try to determine is whether the structure was more of a barn and whether the residential remains originated from a nearby house, or if it was a carriage house with a resident.
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the Miami University Anthropology Department for making this project possible, and Dr. Jeb J. Card for his guidance and mentorship throughout the semester for all students involved. We would also like to thank the previous MUCAP student participants for their work, research, and tireless dedication without which we would not have succeeded. We have used their work to guide our analysis this season.
References
References
Antique-Marks.com. 2016; Barreca, A. I., Clay, K. B., & Tarr, J. A. 2014; Burke, Danielle. 2022; Card, Jeb et al. 2023; Card, Jeb et al. 2018; Card, Jeb et al. 2021; “Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland.” 2013; Dirksen, Vicki. 1997; Fairwinds Cape Cod. n.d.; Garrett, Jo, and Larry Garrett. 2024; Gordon, Stephen. 2007; California Department of Transportation. (2018); Holland, Evangeline. (2014); Horn, Jonathan C. 2005; Indiana University Indianapolis Library. 2010; “Iron Wire for Baling Cotton.”(1857); Museum of Health Care at Kingston, n.d.; Li, G., Gao, L., Liu, F., Qiu, M., & Dong, G. (2022); Li, Vincent. 2025; Lindsey, Bill. 2025; Mason, Bradley. 2016; Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab. 2017; McGinnis, Ralph J. 1930; Noel Hume, Ivor. 1991; Olivier, Marie. 1910; George Tiemann, n.d.; Reilly, Julie A. 1991; Harvard University Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology. n.d.; Smith, William E. n.d.; Stelle, Lenville J. 2001; Towne, Charles O. 1907; Tuckpointing, Kerry. 2024; U.S. National Park Service. 1965; Scott Clark - Metal Detecting and Archaeology. n.d.; Accessed December 9, 2025. Victoria and Albert Museum. 2025. Wesleyan University Archaeology & Anthropology Collections. n.d.
NACE Career Readiness Competencies
NACE Career Readiness Competencies
Our communication skills developed over the course of the field season. We developed both individual communication skills and group collaborative communication skills, both in the field and through online and lab work after the field season.
Our teamwork grew throughout the field season, as well. We learned how best to fit our assigned roles, manage difficulties, and navigate ambiguity both as individuals and as a team to meet our final goals.
This project allowed us to develop an understanding of equity & inclusion by incorporating and encouraging work from students with various backgrounds and academic focuses. This brought much more specialized interpretations and cultural connections to our final report.
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