The Phase III archaelogical mitigation at the Presidential Library site began with the removal of the overlying fills and the exposure of the underlying ground surface and related features. A large backhoe was used to remove the overburden.

Two large block excavations were opened up with the backhoe. A multitude of early to late nineteenth century features were exposed during this process.

Many of the features exposed during the archaeological project exhibited superpositioning with later features cutting into earlier ones. This picture illustrates a cluster of three large late nineteen century privy pits that cut through a large cistern, which in turn cuts through two early nineteen century privy pits. The overlapping of features makes excavation a bit more complex.

This picture illustrates a late nineteenth century foundation wall cutting across an earlier rectangular privy pit, which in turn cuts across a circular circa 1840s cistern.

This picture depicts the partially excavated remains of a large, circa 1850s cistern that had been filled up with trash after it was abandoned during the circa 1860s or 1870s.

Several wells were discovered and excavated during the course of the excavations. These wells contained a dense concentration of household and commercial trash.

This picture illustrates the remains of a large brick pad that probably represents the remains of the Illinois State Journal's printing press foundations. This newspaper was a strong supporter of Abraham Lincoln. Note how the press foundations cut across the remains of a small, circa 1820s cellar which would have been located beneaqth a small house.