Historical Archaeology in Harpers Ferry

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Excavations at St. Peter's Church and School
A Photographic Tour of the Site

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We have recovered thousands of artifacts in our excavations during the summer of 2000. We will be working on cleaning, conserving and classifying these artifacts over the next several months. Set out below is a list of the general types of artifacts we have uncovered, and some more specific types as well.


Kitchen Wares and Food

Ceramic sherds, including pieces of plates, cup and saucers of the following types:
  • creamware, pearlware, whiteware, yellow ware;
  • porcelains;
  • redwares and stone wares;
  • blue and green feather-edge decorated wares;
  • polychrome painted wares;
  • blue flow and blue annular decorated wares;
  • blue and red sponge decorated wares; and
  • blue and red transfer print decorated wares.
Other Kitchen wares:
  • milk glass for food storage;
  • table ware glass (colorless and amber, olive green, cobalt, and amythyst colors);
  • bottle glass and caps; and
  • metal utensils.
Food and Animal Remains:
  • animal bone fragments;
  • animal teeth;
  • fruit pits; and
  • oyster shells.

Clothing

  • buttons made of shell, bone, ceramic, metal, glass, rubber and plastic;
  • eyelets and grommets; and
  • leather fragments and shoe soles.

Personal Items

  • white ball clay pipe stems and bowls;
  • medicine bottle and vial fragments;
  • slate pencils and writing slates;
  • small plastic toys;
  • various coins;
  • small metal chains;
  • inscribed metal school badges; and
  • identification badges.

Household and Architectural Items

  • hand wrought nails and spikes;
  • cut nails and wire nails;
  • various metal hinges;
  • drawer handles, escutcheons and metal clasps;
  • door locks and door knobs;
  • mica flakes from reflective surfaces;
  • window glass;
  • lantern chimney glass;
  • unidentified iron hardware fragments;
  • brick and mortar fragments;
  • painted stucco fragments;
  • a foot of a cast iron stove;
  • charcoal and coal.

Arms and Ammunition

  • .22 caliber bullet casings;
  • civil war era bullet.


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WVHC
This archaeology project is being presented with financial assistance from the West Virginia Humanities Council, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This web site has also been featured as a lesson plan by Education World, The Study Web, Bigchalk Education Network, and Lycos Zone, among others.

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© 2003 Copyright and All Rights Reserved
by Christopher Fennell
Last Modified: November 16, 2003
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