An 18th Century Red Earthenware Sherd Recovered in Charlestown, Massachusetts with a Rare Decoration for the Area's Potter's Industry

The following eighteenth century red earthenware sherd with a rolled rim and crimped decoration was recovered in the 1980s at the site of the Three Cranes Tavern in Charlestown, Massachusetts. It was found as part of the landfill that was originally used to cover the empty foundation that remained from the tavern after it was totally destroyed at the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. I have not seen this type of decoration before from the potter's industry in Charlestown; although, I have found some evidence that this may have been a style produced in Essex County, Massachusetts in the late-eighteenth and nineteenth century, which was an industry that was partially influenced by some of the potters, who originally worked in Charlestown in the eighteenth century.

The Three Cranes Tavern was originally built for Governor John Winthrop (1587-1649) circa 1630; however shortly after its construction, Governor Winthrop had moved to Boston, whereas the home or meeting house was converted into a tavern under a different name before it became the Three Cranes Tavern at the end of the seventeenth century.

Extensive archaeology was conducted at the site of the tavern as part of Boston's Big Dig Project in the 1980s, but the only datable contexts are found from the Three Cranes Tavern occupancy before the Battle of Bunker Hill. However, there does not appear to be any archaeological evidence that can be tied to Governor Winthrop's occupancy or the first tavern.

Nevertheless, I would suggest that due to a lack of understanding into when the foundation was actually filled that a broad date of June 18, 1775 to 1780 could be proposed for the artifacts found in the foundation fill. Although, I assume that there is pretty much no chance that the foundation was filled in the day after the Battle of Bunker Hill.

It should also be noted that all of the identifiable artifacts discovered within this archaeological context predate the Battle of Bunker Hill, which suggest that this sherd was also produced before the American Revolution. I also assume that this may be the remains of a flower pot since other unusually decorated flower pots have been recovered in late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century archaeological contexts at the Navy Yard in Charlestown, as well as the Narbonne House in Salem, Massachusetts.

Note: Here is a link to the article that I posted about the flower pot recovered from a late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century privy at the Narbonne House in Salem, Massachusetts.

Here is also an article that I posted about eighteenth century red earthenware flower pots recovered at George Washington's home in Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Sherd Recovered at the Site of the Three Cranes Tavern in Charlestown, Mass.

18th Century Red Earthenware Sherd Recovered in Charlestown, MA

Recovered from the LandFill used to Fill Three Cranes Tavern Foundation After June 17, 1775
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department - West Roxbury, MA

Close-Up of Crimped Decoration
Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department - West Roxbury, MA

Additional 18th Century Ceramics Found within the Foundation Fill
 Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department - West Roxbury, MA

Another Example of Likely Locally Made 18th Century Red Earthenware Found in the Fill
Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department - West Roxbury, MA

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...