The trash pit was just discovered a little while ago when a tree was uprooted during a bad coastal storm revealing all types of artifacts that had been deposited before the tree existed. The artifacts included eighteenth century objects like slipware from Staffordshire, England, as well as nineteenth century artifacts, such as European black glass, historical flasks made in New Hampshire, leather shoes, imported European ceramics and domestic red earthenware. Although, the majority of the trash pit appears to date to the circa 1790-1880 period. However, the history of this site is not currently known and it is under investigation in order to determine the site's role in this community.
Personally, I find the artifacts fascinating since they likely represent the type of household wares that were available in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
The goal with this site is to eventually allow archaeologists and students from Salem State University in Salem, Massachusetts to professionally excavate the area. But I was given permission recently to study the area, along with the red earthenware that had already been discovered.
Interestingly, York never sustained any kind of potter's industry in the eighteenth or nineteenth centuries, and to my knowledge, any type of local red earthenware production would have been extremely limited. Therefore, the red earthenware that was discovered at this site was likely an import, which may have been shipped from a potter's business elsewhere in southern Maine; although, I also suspect that some of the sherds may have originated at the Dodge Pottery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which was located less than ten miles away.
The Dodge Pottery is a potter's business that is not widely known today despite having been in business from the late-eighteenth century and well-past 1850. This potter's business was also related to similar operations in Exeter, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine.
Note: Salt-glazed stoneware sherds were also recovered from this trash pit in York, Maine, which likely originated at the Frederick Carpenter Pottery in Charlestown, Massachusetts. The Carpenter Pottery produced a large amount of stoneware in the late-eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and much of this production was shipped to Boston. But I have also seen Charlestown stoneware in similar contexts in places like Saco, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Trash Pit in York, Maine
Trash Pit Found Behind 17th Century House in York, ME
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Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
Trash Pit Found Behind 17th Century House in York, ME
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Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
Trash Pit Found Behind 17th Century House in York, ME
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Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
Some of the Surface Artifacts that I Saw the Day that I Visited this Site
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Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
Red Earthenware Sherds Recovered from Trash Pit
Late-18th and 19th Century Red Earthenware Sherds
Recovered at the Site of the Trash Pit in York, ME
Possibly Made in Southern Maine or in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
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Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
Late-18th and 19th Century Red Earthenware Sherds
Recovered at the Site of the Trash Pit in York, ME
Possibly Made in Southern Maine or in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
Late-18th and 19th Century Red Earthenware Sherds
Recovered at the Site of the Trash Pit in York, ME
Possibly Made in Southern Maine or in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
Incised Red Earthenware Flower Pot
19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot with Banded Incised Decoration
Recovered at the Site of the Trash Pit in York, ME
Possibly Made in Southern Maine or in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
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Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
View of the Interior of the Flower Pot Sherd
Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
Another View of the Banded Incised Decoration
Select Red Earthenware Sherds Recovered in York, Maine
These Are Some of the Best Red Earthenware Sherds that Were Recovered
Recovered at the Site of the Trash Pit in York, ME
Possibly Made in Southern Maine or in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
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Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
Refined 19th Century Red Earthenware Rim Sherd Decorated with a Green Glaze
Recovered at the Site of the Trash Pit in York, ME
Possibly Made in Southern Maine or in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
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Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
Refined 19th Century Red Earthenware Rim Sherd Decorated with a Spotted Green Glaze
Recovered at the Site of the Trash Pit in York, ME
Possibly Made in Southern Maine or in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
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Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
19th Century Red Earthenware Custard Cup Sherd Decorated with a Colorful Glaze
Recovered at the Site of the Trash Pit in York, ME
Possibly Made in Southern Maine or in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
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Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
View of the Interior of the Custard Cup
Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Sherd Decorated with a Colorful Glaze
Recovered at the Site of the Trash Pit in York, ME
Possibly Made in Southern Maine or in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
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Photo Courtesy: Joel Lefever
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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