Some recent colonial pit digging finds

[Bill D.]

When I wasn't detecting this winter, I was searching out and digging colonial trash pits. Was successful in finding a couple early ones. No whole bottles as usual, but did find a lot of cool stuff. Both sites date to about 1650. First 2 pics are from site #1, showing the opened hole, and some of the stuff that was coming out. Place was loaded with onion bottle parts.

 

[Bill D.]

I got tired of digging these things, but the hope for a whole bottle kept me going.

 

[Bill D.]

Here's a sample of what was coming out of site #2. I ended up with 10 boxes of shards. Need to start the sorting process and see if I can glue some things back together.

 

[Bill D.]

Here's some of the stuff cleaned up, which includes some pieces from an early westerwald tankard.

 

[Bill D.]

Here's another box of the typical shards and glass coming from this site.

 

[Bill D.]

I dug over 800 clay pipe stems and bowls here. Must have been a tavern site.

 

[Bill D.]

Here's a shard with the monogram "WR" and crown, which either stands for King William III or William Rogers, the poor potter of Yorktown.

 

[Bill D.]

One last pic showing part of a medallion off a bellarmine jug(?), and some other misc stuff. Wild looking creature of some sort. That's it for now. Have my eyes on another early pit, but may have to wait until the fall as I'm not too keen on snakes and ticks.

 

[bearswede]

Where you at, Bill... I must confess, I'm jealous!!!

However, the archeologist in me says: maybe these pits should be excavated, mapped and recorded with the state archeologist...

Ron

 

[Bill D.]

Hey Ron - I'm in eastern VA. There's lots of these colonial pits around this area. I'm already helping the local archaeologist in locating and digging a similar pit at a site right next door on city-owned property before it gets developed. She doesn't appear to be interested or have the time to get involved in my little project, but I am keeping her up to speed on my progress and results, and she appreciates my efforts. I'm trying to document my site somewhat, but just don't have the time to do it properly. I can't even afford the time to sift the dirt. Everything I've found has been eyeballed. Hope this helps to explain what's going on here.