China and ceramics from
the First State Capitol (23SC678).
Left: Rimsherd of saucer of small plate with annular decoration of copper/brown
color. Thickness is 6 mm. and weights 5.1 grams. Found by the SLCC excavation
in Square 6, arbitrary layer 3 (20 to 30 cm. below surface).
Right: Rimsherd of saucer of small plate with annular decoration of brown
color. Thickness is 6 mm. and weights 4.3 grams. Found by the SLCC excavation
in Square 1, feature 1, arbitrary layer 2 (10 to 20 cm. below surface).
Left: Rimsherd of saucer of small plate with annular decoration of green
color. Thickness is 5 mm. and weights 5.0 grams. Found by the SLCC excavation
in Square 6, arbitrary layer 1 (0 to 10 cm. below surface).
Right: Bottom of an ironstone plate with maker's hallmark. Thickness is
5 mm. and weights 5.0 grams. Found by the SLCC excavation in Square 5,
arbitrary layer 1 (0 to 10 cm. below the surface).
Left: Yellow ware bodysherd. Thickness = 6 mm. and weight is 8.3 grams.
Found by the SLCC excavation in square 6, arbitrary layer 1 (0 to 10 cm. below the surface).
Right: Yellow ware bodysherd. Thickness = 4 mm. and weight is 5.0 grams.
Found by the SLCC excavation in square 1, arbitrary layer 3 (20 to 30 cm. below the surface).
Rockingham bodysherd. Thickness equals
5 mm. and weight is 4.6 grams. Found by the SLCC excavation in square 2, arbitrary
layer 2 (10 to 20 cm.).
Chamber pot found by UMC excavation during 1968.
The rim diameter is 21.5 cm., height is 13.4 cm., and base diameter is 13.6 cm.
Registration number 68-618.
Mixing bowl found by UMC excavation during 1968.
The rim diameter is 22.5 cm., height is 10.0 cm., and base diameter is 14.5 cm.
Registration number 68-618.
Left: Spatterware body sherd measuring 4 mm. thick and weighing 3.6 grams.
Found by the SLCC excavation in square 17 in arbitrary layer 2 (10 to 20 cm. below surface).
Right: Handpainted whiteware bodysherd measuring 4 mm. thick and
weighing 6.0 grams. Found by the SLCC excavation in square 12 in arbitrary layer 2 (10 to 20 cm.
below surface).
Red transfer decorated whiteware bodysherd
measuring 5 mm. in thickness and weighing 4.7 grams. Found by the SLCC excavation in square
9 in arbitrary layer 3 (20 to 30 cm. below the surface).
Left: Blue transfer decorated whiteware body sherd
measuring 4 mm. in thickness and weighing 5.7 grams. Found by the SLCC excavation in square 9
at a depth of 20 to 30 cm. below the surface.
Right: Dark blue transfer decorated whiteware bodysherd measuring
4 mm. in thickness and weighing 3.8 grams. Found by the SLCC excavation in square 9
at a depth of 20 to 30 cm. below the surface.
Left: Green featheredge decorated whiteware body sherd
measuring 3 mm. in thickness and weighing 7.0 grams. Found by the SLCC excavation in square
9 in arbitrary layer 3 (20 to 30 cm. below the surface).
Left: Salt glaze rimsherd measuring 16 mm. in thickness and weighing 11.8 grams.
Found by the SLCC excavation in square 3 in arbitrary layer 2 (10 to 20 cm. below the surface).
Right: Salt glaze bodysherd measuring 8 mm. in thickness and weighing 30.2 grams.
Found by the SLCC excavation in square 3 in arbitrary layer 2 (10 to 20 cm. below the surface).
Late 19th century pearlware with raised backmark. On display at First State Capitol.
Left: Dark blue transfer design on whiteware. On display at First State Capitol.
Right: Mid-19th century blue transfer desigsn on whiteware. On display at First State Capitol.
Mid-19th century blue transfer desigsn on whiteware. On display at First State Capitol.
Green feather edge decorated whiteware sherds. On display at First State Capitol.
English backmarks from mid-19th century. On display at First State Capitol.
Brown transfer decoration on whiteware. On display at First State Capitol.
Colleen Hamilton (1988:54-61) described a variety of decorated and undecorated
ceramics from the First State Capitol. She reported examples of both blue and green shell
edge decoration from the site and noted that this style of decoration reached its
peak of popularity during 1830 to 1840 and declined rapidly ahead of 1860.
Annular decoration can occur in many variations. The variety from the SLCC excavation
units belong to the later phase of annular decoration between 1830 and 1860 (Hamilton 1988:58).
Sponge/spatter ware sherds were reported from the UMSL excavation at First State Capitol that
belong to the same tradition as the sponge/spatter ware sherds recovered by the SLCC excavation.
Hamilton (1988:59-60) suggest a peak of popularity for this ware from 1840 to 1860 and that
agrees with the evidence uncovered by the SLCC excavation.
Ironstone wares were reported from the UMSL sample and treated as a typical type of the
second half of the 19th century (Hamilton 1988:60). That interpretation seems very reasonable
considering the specimens recovered by the SLCC excavation.
Hamilton (1988:57) noted several examples of mono-chrome transfer print sherds from the
UMSL excavation at First State Capitol. She noted that blue transfer print sherds were
the most prevalent and followed in decreasing frequency by sepia, cranberry, black, and
mulberry transfer printed wares. Her generalization seems to be confirmed by a quick examination
of the sherds recovered by the SLCC excavation.
Photographs of SLCC dig units at First State Capitol (23SC678).
Historic china from First State Capitol (23SC678).
Glass and buttons from First State Capitol (23SC678).
Animal bone from First State Capitol (23SC678).
Return to Main Page for Excavation of First State Capitol (23SC678).
website updated 25 February 2004