Productive colonial pit produces treasure-trove of early artifacts

[Bill D. (VA)]

After a couple of cancellations due to factors beyond our control, my good buddy Stan and I finally got the green light to return for a day of digging in the enormous colonial pit that has produced all the bottle seals and other great finds in recent years. I got up early, loaded up all my tools and sifter, and made the 90 min trek to meet Stan at the site. After probing and finding a couple of good side-by-side spots we hacked our way through vines and large roots to get down to the use layer. And it's always hard going here as the area is absolutely filled with loads of brick and oyster shells making it very difficult to get any penetration with the shovel. In this particular area the pit was not as deep as in many other spots - only 2-3 ft as opposed to as deep as 4-5 ft. My spot seemed to be producing large numbers of clay pipe bowls plus over 100 stem pieces. The stem bore diameters were mostly 6/64" or 7/64" which equates to 1650-1710, and this is consistent with the other finds we've been making here. Some of the bowls also had makers marks on the side of the heel or on the bowl itself. The "RT" on that one bowl is the mark for pipemaker Robert Tippet (1660-1690). But Stan was the hero of the day as he recovered 2 bottle seals in the sifter in the same pile of dirt. These were both identical "RC" seals which came from personalized wine bottles belonging to Robert "King" Carter who was probably the wealthiest Virginia landowner at that time. It came from a pancake onion bottle dating to the very late 1600s most likely, and we dug a large number of spouts and bases from these early bottles as well. And Stan graciously gave me one of the seals since I came up empty in my pit, unfortunately. Thanks buddy! I also recovered 4 large pieces from a gorgeous globular-shaped rhenish stoneware jug from the same period. I'm hoping to find the rest of it on another dig. It'll will take me a while to clean up the rest of the stuff, and I'll eventually post some more pics when I'm finished. By the way, that's "Smiling Stan" below, and I'm the human gopher scratchin' around in the hole. Thanks again Stan. I had a great time as usual, and look forward to a return trip soon.

 

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[fishstick]

You're certainly welcome Dug. I know I tend to be long-winded in my posts, but that's mostly because I like to print out all my posts in color and put in 3-ring binders to serve as a historical record of my adventures/finds. Been doing it for almost 8 years now, and wish I started earlier. One day when I finally "retire" from digging it'll be great to go back and read through these and re-live the experiences again. Thanks again for your comment, and good luck to you.

YOU my friend are truly a lover of history!!!!! I can't wait to read your memoir's... lol. AWESOME AS ALWAYS BILL!!!! HH....

 

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[timekiller]

If my back will hold out I've got a couple places I'd like to try that on this year Bill.That's getting it done for colonial cool man.
Take Care,
Pete,

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

YOU my friend are truly a lover of history!!!!! I can't wait to read your memoir's... lol. AWESOME AS ALWAYS BILL!!!! HH....

Thanks a bunch fishstick. I've thought about maybe doing a book one day, but I'm too busy digging to tackle something like that .... haha!

 

[Valley Ranger]

Amazing.

 

[Steve in PA]

Great stuff Bill. That kind of digging is backbreaking work! One of these days something incredible will come out of that site. Carter was a wealthy planter, and like the say, the best dumpster diving is in the wealthy neighborhoods

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Great stuff Bill. That kind of digging is backbreaking work! One of these days something incredible will come out of that site. Carter was a wealthy planter, and like the say, the best dumpster diving is in the wealthy neighborhoods

Thanks Steve. Sorry we couldn't hook up this past weekend. Are you still in town?

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[Steve in PA]

Thanks Steve. Sorry we couldn't hook up this past weekend. Are you still in town?

No Bill, I returned Monday evening. There is a good chance I will be back sometime in the future. We send people down there regularly, and I will probably be asked to fill in again at some point.