Post 9.  After the Dust Settles

With the conclusion of the archaeological fieldwork at the Daniel Rutan House site, a meticulous indoor process began – the washing, analysis and interpretation of the collected data and artifacts. Hunter Research recovered an estimated 4,500 artifacts during the Stage 3 survey. While the majority of the collection probably dates from the mid-19^th to early 20^th century, a significant amount of material dates to the mid- to late-18^th-century occupation of the site by the Rutan household. Laboratory staff at Hunter Research labelled and cataloged these materials and digitizing the field records in order to create an integrated database, allowing researchers today and in the future to formulate a clearer understanding of the chronology of the site. The last task for Hunter Research will be to prepare a technical report describing and interpreting the findings to be placed on file at the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office.