As one of the editors for Identifying American Artifacts, published by  
Left Coast Press, I would be very, very interested to work with  
someone on this topic.  It could make an excellent MS Thesis, for  
example.  The archaeological community is sorely in need of a guide to  
formed carbon elements, in both batteries and arc lamps.

Sarah- for now, however, here are some clues that Lydia might be able  
to cite:

http://www.google.com/patents?as_q=battery+carbon&num=30&rview=1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_pnum=&as_vt=&as_pinvent=&as_pasgnee=&as_pusc=&as_pintlc=&as_ptype=11&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1800&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1920&as_drrb_ap=q&as_minm_ap=1&as_miny_ap=&as_maxm_ap=0&as_maxy_ap=

[This is a google patent search for keywords "battery" and "carbon",  
but restricted patents issued between 1800 and 1920.  The pictures  
will help her.]

Cheers,
Tim

On Nov 24, 2010, at 9:01 AM, Doms, Keith wrote:

> Good morning,
> Sorry for the delay, I have been in the field.  I actually came across
> about ten of those blocks stacked together with the anode terminal.   
> The
> paper container had rotted away.  Unfortunately it was part of a  
> project
> that was never finished at my former place of employment.  I never  
> got a
> chance to research it.  I would check patent records for batteries  
> from
> about 1900.
> Sears and Montgomery ward catalogs from that time are selling  
> batteries,
> mostly to power door bells.  Some batteries are illustrated but not
> their internal structure.  Sorry I can't be of more help.
>
> Keith
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Sarah Croucher
> Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 2:44 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Mystery object, East Africa
>
> Dear Keith,
>
> Thanks so much for the information. It's super helpful - a couple of
> other
> people also suggested that it is part of a battery, so it seems more
> than
> likely. I don't suppose you know of any references to any of these
> artifacts
> that are in press? It would be really useful to both Lydia and I if
> there was a
> report or other publication of some kind we could reference for our
> battery
> related artifacts.
>
> Many thanks,
> Sarah
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: "Doms, Keith" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Mon, 15 November, 2010 8:35:48
> Subject: Re: Mystery object, East Africa
>
> I have encountered something very similar but the core is some highly
> compress black compound not solid metal.  I believe that it is a
> segmented battery core.  The thin plastic appears to help hold the
> material together and keep its shape.
>
> Keith
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Sarah Croucher
> Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 5:35 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Mystery object, East Africa
>
> Dear List-members,
>
> I'm sending the following from Lydia Wilson-Marshall, a PhD student at
> the
> University of Virginia. She sends the following:
>
> I have a mystery artifact that I was hoping you could help me  
> identify.
> I
> recovered what I think may be an early 20th-century battery or   
> battery
> part at
> Awamthoya, a late 19th to early 20th century Giriama  homestead.  The
> artifact
> was found in a STP, so stratigraphy is unclear.  It may be  modern and
> not
> relate to the  occupation, but I think it is more likely  to be from  
> the
>
> occupation--Awmathoya was abandoned 1910-1920ish.  Its  metal core is
> encased on
> the edges in a type of flexible plastic  (bakelite?  celluloid?).  It
> may not
> even be a battery, perhaps part of a  weapon?  I'm more than a little
> lost on
> this one.
>
> ***
>
> The site in question is located near the Kenyan coast, but I have also
> found an
> artifact which appears to be the same at a site on Zanzibar. If anyone
> would
> like to see a picture, you should be able to access one at the  
> following
> link:
> https://wesfiles.wesleyan.edu/home/scroucher/Archaeology%20pictures/IMG_
> 5241_reduced.jpg
>
>
> Feel free to send replies to me off list at [log in to unmask] I
> will also
> forward any replies on to Lydia.
>
>
> Many thanks,
> Sarah Croucher
>
>
>