Site ORYA3, the Smith House, is located in Dayton, Oregon. The archaeological project originated because owners of this structure, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, applied for a demolition permit. The 1859 home, first occupied by two early Oregon pioneers, Andrew and Sarah Smith, was considered architecturally significant, an unique example of a territorial period home. In the years since 1859, the original building construction has not been significantly modified, nor have the grounds been looted or substantially altered. Dr. David Brauner and the Oregon State University Anthropology Department began an archaeological project at this location in anticipation of the destruction, the first time in Oregon that archaeologists have excavated the interior of a standing house. The longevity of occupation, site taphonomy, and episodes of floor repair over the years created a mixed context. The research direction for this thesis matches a statistical and descriptive analysis of a sample of the material culture with information gathered from published and unpublished archival data from the Smith house. The thesis examines cultural material found on this site and provides a basis for comparison with other similar archaeological sites. Dayton history is discussed, to provide a broad context within which to interpret the archaeological data. Occupancy background on the various residents is provided. This thesis provides a general analysis of the 10,609 artifacts and their associated provenience. This thesis is a cautionary tale for historic archaeologists working on domestic sites. Examination of material by room points out how little can really be said based only on artifact presence. On this site, oral and written histories often proved to be better sources of information than the artifacts on many subjects. / Graduation date: 1998 / Best scan available for figures. Original has a moray pattern.

Excavations performed at the historic Smith House (ORYA3) located in Dayton, Yamhill County, Oregon, recovered a large collection of artifacts. Categories of artifacts previously analyzed include flat glass, nails, glass containers, ceramic hollowware and flatware, brick, bone, metal containers, illumination devices, currency, footwear, tobacco, and lead balls, shot, and cartridge casings. A category not analyzed was children's toys. This thesis addresses this category of artifact. The thesis discusses the historical context of the Smith House, and examines children, play and toys. The theoretical construct of symbolic anthropology is used to provide a model for the process of enculturation. Detailed analysis of glass and clay marbles and of ceramic doll and doll-related artifacts is performed. Proveniences and associations of these artifacts are undertaken. Appendices provide for a chronology of doll manufacturing and for a detailed description of artifacts. Conclusions drawn from the analysis of the toys at the Smith House suggest that a larger collection of toys and better provenience of collected materials are necessary in order to apply the symbolic approach to toys as tools of enculturation. Recommendations for future avenues of research are given. It is suggested that this analysis provides a basis for future comparison with other historical archaeological sites. / Graduation date: 2002