This aerial photograph of the Ranelius site was taken from the northwest in 1956.  The excavation trenches are visible at the northeastern part of the terrace.

They knew there was a site on the terrace because artifacts had been found along the beach below.  Also, it was a level, well drained, and protected terrace near freshwater springs.  Therefore, it seemed a likely location for a settlement. 

Cooper had some interest in the remains of an old settler house about 100 feet south of the terrace edge. Their Trench 10 was put through the area where the house once stood in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their finds of historic period artifacts included white-ware ceramics, iron nails with square heads, a pocket knife, and a label from a tobacco tin.