Thanks to everyone who responded to our query!  I think we can safely call
this one solved: we're going with target balls, final answer.  Histarch to
the rescue again!

Thanks,
Travis


On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 6:47 AM, Jennifer M. Faberson <[log in to unmask]
> wrote:

> Definitely target balls.
>
>
> Jennifer Faberson
> Historic Materials Specialist
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Travis
> Parno
> Sent: Monday, October 04, 2010 5:44 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Mystery Glass Vessel
>
> Dear Histarch-ers,
>
> More from the Fairbanks House in Dedham, MA -- thanks to everyone who
> helped
> out with our pewter button a couple of weeks back.  We've got another
> mystery: a small, globular brown glass vessel of some sort.  The vessel (or
> should I say *vessels* -- we've found close to 60 based on individual necks
> recovered!) roughly resembles a Christmas ball ornament, although not quite
> as thin.  They have distinct mold marks and many of the necks show signs of
> melting, some beyond what could still be considered functional.  This
> deformation has led us to speculate that they might have been some sort of
> replaceable oil lamp globe.  I've posted pictures of a base and a neck, as
> well as a rather lame attempt to illustrate their original shape, at our
> dig
> blog:
> http://fairbanksarchaeology.blogspot.com/2010/10/mystery-glass-vessel.html
> .
>
> These vessels come from a context that has been initially dated to sometime
> after the mid 19th century, possibly as late as the early to mid 20th
> century.  If anyone can confirm our oil lamp hypothesis or point us in
> another direction, that'd be greatly appreciated!  Thanks in advance~
>
> Best,
> Travis Parno
>
>
> --
> -----------------------
> Travis G Parno
>
> Doctoral Candidate
> Boston University
> Department of Archaeology
>



-- 
-----------------------
Travis G Parno

Doctoral Candidate
Boston University
Department of Archaeology