The late 1880s and early 1900s were also a period associated with Expos
(World's Fairs) and increased transportation of materials from east to
west.  It is certainly possible for these items to have been discard for
replacement, but the jumble appears to represent "breakable" items that
were likely "curated" until the pile was large enough to justify digging a
hole.  When we moved from back east to California, my father (ca. 1964)
buried broken toys, tools, and other items in our yard before tilling and
leveling the surface.  Even as a kid, I had a habit of digging holes in our
backyear, resulting in a "moon scape".

Jeanette McKenna, California


> [Original Message]
> From: paul courtney <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 7/22/2010 2:20:37 PM
> Subject: Re: Questions about residential deposit
>
>   In Europe we call these clearance deposits and they are not uncommon 
> in such features as cesspits- masses of them in Netherlands where brick 
> cesspits are common. They presumably represent household clearances such 
> as might follow the death of an occupant and the throwing out of old and 
> perhaps no longer fashionable goods. Items may also have been broken if 
> left in empty houses. Some clearance have been interpreted as being also 
> inn deposits who presumably periodically refurbished as do modern inns. 
> Raucous banquets may also account for some these clearances especially 
> in inns and high status houses. I am sure there is a US literature on 
> these as well.
>
>
> On 22/07/2010 19:51, John M. Foster, RPA wrote:
> > We have recently excavated a tightly dated deposit (1890s) of
residential
> > artifacts.  The majority of the deposit appears to be ceramics from at
least
> > four British makers.  Other items include pressed glass, glass candy
dish,
> > perfume caddy, horse shoe (one), one French toothbrush, one large comb,
couple
> > of decomposed cans of indeterminate size, pickle jar, several Prosser
buttons,
> > condiment bottle, sets of glass stemware, window glass, and one ceramic
doll or
> > figurine face.  There was no cutlery, cooking ware, tools, and very
little
> > bone. 
> >
> > Based on weathering of broken edges, it appears that the items were
broken
> > elsewhere, as opposed to fresh fractures from excavation, and then
deposited in
> > a prepared pit (3 x 3 x 2 feet).  Only one whole bottle was recovered. 
All the
> > ceramics were broken and appear to be from several sets of plain white
> > earthenware dishes.  The artifacts appear to be average or slightly
above in
> > cost. We are investigating the possibility that the artifacts may have
resulted
> > from a single episode of deposition. The question is what might have
occasioned
> > mass destruction of a collection of dining ware?  We are investigating
> > earthquakes which are well-known for the area but would be interested
in other
> > possibilities, which brings us to this list.  Any comments or
suggestions would
> > be appreciated. 
> >
> >   John M. Foster, RPA Greenwood-Associates.com 310.454.3091 tel/fax
310.717.5048
> > cell
> >
> >