Some Assembly required

**halfdime** · Nov 05, 2010, 06:47 AM

I posted this in Today's Finds but nobody responded. Hopefully, I'll get some answers here!

I went out to our 19th century farm to do some detecting down toward an old springhouse today. This means clearing the way, detecting and repeating. Using this method, I've found two Indian head pennies and an 1840 large cent; I'm convinced there is more, and some of it will be silver. As I detected today, I noticed the broken top to an old bottle; you know, the kind you usually find in a privy! I began to carefully probe the soil, and quickly found myself in a buried bottle field. Unfortunately, everything was broken. Aqua embossed bottles, in pieces (one was some sort of horse liniment), brown glass, etc. All in pieces . I started finding pieces of a clay bottle (is that the proper term), and thought it might be fun to gather them and re-assemble it. I did work through the dirt, looking for a small bottle or two that might have survived the massacre, but it wasn't to be. You wonder if they were dumped broken, or later visitors to the site did the deed. Aerial photos from 1938 indicate that the buildings were gone. Another interesting find was this root that grew through a broken bottle top. Knowing what these bottles might have once looked like, it was frustrating to see my growing pile of shards, but at least it wasn't me that broke them! Maybe my luck will be better next time! Before I forget, the only mark on the bottle was GEIRST; was this some sort of an ale bottle? You'll also notice that I didn't get all the pieces; I'll have to see what else I can find of this thing.

**Road Dog** · Nov 05, 2010, 08:51 AM

Mid to late 1800's. That applied lip piece looks atleast 1870's. That stoneware bottle is an ale or beer. Could't find anything on it. Try a search for Geirst or Gierst or Geir St. or Gier St. Just maybe the debossing got messed up. Keep an eye out for marbles too!