Archaeology of the Clough House, Boston - Report 2

The redware artifacts thus far excavated at the Clough House in Boston's North End have mainly been confined to simpler unglazed  and plan glazed domestic utilitarian examples (both 18th and 19th century) in small quantity and size. The overall ceramics found are not great either. It is hopeful that much more important pottery and possibly porcelain artifacts will be found in the next few weeks.

The Clough House is one of Boston's earliest homes. It dates between 1711 and 1715 - when it was originally built. The structure is believed to be entirely period.

Clough House - Boston, Ma (North End Neighborhood)

Property and House Date Circa 1715

Sign Attached to Clough House - Boston, Ma

The Property is on the National Historic Register

Next door to the Clough house, once stood a home that Benjamin Franklin purchased for his sister. The building no longer exists and instead - a small park has replaced it. Behind both of these sites - is the Old North Church - which happens to be Boston's oldest church. The church's property has never been dug before. It is hopeful that a dig at this site may happen later this summer, in the meantime - we are working at the Clough House, which predates the church and all other neighboring properties. The Paul Revere House is not too far away either. That home and property have been dug before and the Paul Revere collection is kept at the Boston Archaeology Department in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. Those artifacts are a part of my ongoing studies.

Open Park is Where Ben Franklin's Sister's Home Once Stood

Building in Background Behind the Trees is the Old North Church

Both Sites Date 18th Century

Excavation Underway at the Clough House

Photo Taken: May 23, 2013

I was carefully examining the redware artifacts from the Clough House yesterday and I found what appeared to be an early redware roof tile. I am sorry in advance for the picture quality. I was in a dark basement and I didn't realize my camera was out of focus. Regardless, you still get the basic idea from the photo.

Possible Remain of a Single Redware Roof tile

Likely 18th Century and Domestic

Hole May Have Marked Where the Nail Was Intended

It has been suggested that redware roof tiles were first manufactured in New England, by at least one potter working in seventeenth-century Salem, Massachusetts. American colonists began making bricks and redware tiles as early as 1612 in Virginia. Reportedly, brick making and tile making went together and by 1629 - there were purportedly makers working in Salem - later followed by at least one Boston potter in 1635. It should be noted that I have found a small amount of redware tile sherds through my studies of the Charlestown, Massachusetts archaeological collection. It is not currently known if there was an industry or an economic demand for tile production in Charlestown, but a brick industry is known. I assume both were manufactured. However, I am still studying the Charlestown collection for actual proof.

Are there any thoughts if this artifact, indeed resembles a redware roof tile? Most of the structures in the area of the Clough House are brick. There have been great amounts of slate discovered. We have found slate in a few different thicknesses - which may indicate use on both early roofs and gardens.

This is the only artifact I have seen so far that resembles a redware roof tile. None of the current nearby properties appear to have roofs  made with redware or terracotta-like tiles. Could Ben Franklin's sister have lived under a roof made of redware tiles? Could this artifact represent the house that once stood next to the Clough House? It has peaked my interest as to why it ended up where it did - only to be unearthed in our recent archaeological studies. What was this artifact's use? Is it even a tile? I am currently left with many questions and very few answers.

We also came across this interesting artifact that is some-kind of a redware or terracotta type product. I am lost for words in what it may be. I had assumed it may have had some sort of use in a foundation, but I cannot be sure. Again, I apologize for the photo quality.

Mystery Redware

Possibly Early 19th Century (Maybe As Late as Early 20th Century)

Potentially a Domestic Potter or Local Company

Any ideas? I feel I have seen these before used in nineteenth-century foundations. An idea of a sewerage or drainage system could also likely be developed for its use.

The privy that I thought we had found earlier in the week has actually turned out to be a complicated early cistern and water drain system. It is assumed to be nineteenth-century, but the idea of an eighteenth-century attribution is not completely out of the question. Have a look! We are still very hopeful for at least one privy!

Top Right: Drain for Cistern (Iron Drain Removed)

Bottom Right: Cistern

Right of Cistern: Additional Feature Attached to Cistern - Not Sure of Its Purpose

Iron Drain Cover (Top)

Likely 19th Century

I looked carefully for a maker's mark on the drain cover, but it appears there never was an impression placed. With a mark, we could have easily put a date range on the entire feature. It is assumed that it could be as late as mid to latter nineteenth-century when iron work really took off during the industrial period.

Iron Drain Cover (Bottom)

Likely 19th Century

Bottom of Cistern

Interesting, pipes are visibly heading away from the cistern to areas of the property that are still undiscovered underground. It appears the cistern may have included drains (like the one seen) all over the property from the number of run-off features seen. It was apparently a complicated and well-thought-out structure that was built centuries ago for unwanted water.

Bottom of Drain

Bottom of Feature to the Right of the Cistern

Plenty more to come...