Could this be a "clue" bottle

No gold in NY

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I was checking on my geocache at some old stone work along the old Champlain canal. I spotted it laying there in the open. It was packed full of dirt and must have slid down the slope. I don't believe it was there when I visited a month earlier. I do have a few of these recessed panel medicine bottles, but have no idea of age. This one is 5 1/2 tall and 2" wide there is a 221 embossed on the bottom. Construction on the canal started in 1817 and was completed in 1823. Couldn't find when it was decommissioned. I'm defiantly returning in the Spring.

canal 1.JPG canal 2.JPG
 

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Jason in Enid

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You bottle is from 1890-1910 era. It was hand blown in a mold and has a hand-tooled neck and lip. Its a nice looking slick. Where it came from is hard to determine. If it was filled with dirt then was buried, probably in a trash pit or privy. Is the ground level there the original ground floor or the basement level? I cant see a privy being put up-hill from a house, but a trash pit could be possible.

I would try raking back the leaves and deadfall to see if you can find a concentration (or trail) of rust and glass. I would use a probe in the area to see if you can find more.

ETA - Bottles like yours were a mass produced item and sold to many businesses. The number on the bottom is a model number. The purchaser would put his own product in the bottle and glue a paper label to the inset panel.
 

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No gold in NY

No gold in NY

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Thanks Jason. The bottle was found at the bottom of the canal. 20 feet up the slope is a State road. Back in 1817, it was probably a dirt trail and there would have been room for a house up there. Going to give it a good raking.
 

Jason in Enid

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Ah, my mistake then. I thought the wall in the pic was part of a building.
 

A2coins

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Really cool I would be back in the spring thats for sure
 

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