03/22/10

The Evans-Mumbower Mill

We used ground penetrating radar at the mill also.  The scan was first done at the front of the mill and after that was completed, I asked that a scan be done on the back of the mill, towards the Wissahickon Creek, to see if anything could be found where I had seen lines.  When the report finally came in, there was only a short shadow found, and it was not straight as my rod had indicated.  As archaeology site leader, the following year, I began a excavation along the lines that I had found.  At about 36 inches below the ground level we uncovered the rough top of a tunnel.

The Buried Tunnel of the Tailrace

We continued along its path until we found the opening of a tunnel 7 feet wide and 3.5 feet high.  We then went straight down my dowsing lines to a bridge over the creek and excavated another hole by the wall of the stone bridge over the creek.  We again found the top of the tunnel 5.5 feet under ground and going underneath the bridge.  Three years later we followed the lines on the other side of the bridge until we ended at the side of the old creek bed that is no longer followed.

There is an on-going archaeology project that is working in the area of the sluiceway to the mill's waterwheel.  The 2010 schedule for this project can be seen by clicking Here.  The site is open to the public on these days.