Sorry all. I should note- the glass does not magnify.
On Wed, Nov 7, 2018 at 3:45 PM Richard Wright <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> Lauren,
> Might the glass disk be from a pocket flashlight?
> Richard
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY"
> To:
> Cc:
> Sent:Wed, 7 Nov 2018 14:50:38 -0500
> Subject:Mystery Objects- Civil War
>
> Hello All,
>
> I have a few mystery objects. Images in this Google Drive:
>
> https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gs7CbcXrpn4lDfPgBSruu9W0YJzDrERU
>
> These objects were both found during excavations of multicomponent
> site,
> occupied from 1840-1990, in Virginia. The most notable feature
> uncovered is
> a stratified midden dating to the 1862/1863 occupation of the
> plantation
> during Civil War by the Union Army, just after the Battle of
> Fredericksburg. This plantation was used as a field hospital and a
> signal
> station that winter.
>
> The first object is a flat, glass disk that is approximately 28.7 mm
> in
> diameter and 2.0 mm thick. It was found clearly within the Army
> occupation
> midden in association with objects such as Minié balls, bayonets,
> and US
> belt buckles and buttons- as well as a mix of domestic materials,
> such as
> glass and ceramic tablewares, likely looted from the big house.
>
> The second object is a brass tube like object. It is approximately
> 37.2 mm
> long with a diameter of 20.5 mm at the top where the smaller hole is
> located. The small center hole is about 7.5 mm in diameter. It has a
> small
> divot on the side which appears to be a possible location for a knob.
> This
> object was found in a different unit, approximately five feet from
> the
> disk; however, the layer in which it was found was disturbed with a
> mix of
> both Civil War and post-war objects and sits right at the top of the
> Civil
> War midden feature.
>
> We have been debating about these two objects. Given the site’s use
> as a
> hospital and signal station, one idea we had was that these objects
> could
> be part of a scientific instrument, like a microscope or spy glass
> (we do
> have one letter from a soldier who talks about using a spy glass to
> peer
> from inside the big house to across the river at the Confederate
> Army).
>
> Another thought we’ve had is that the brass object could be from a
> percussion fuse. We did find unexploded ordnance in this same midden
> feature (don’t worry, we called the correct authorities).
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Thank you,
>
> Lauren
>
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the HISTARCH list:
> write to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
> or click the following link:
>
> http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?SUBED1=HISTARCH&A=1
>
>
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the HISTARCH list:
> write to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
> or click the following link:
>
> http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?SUBED1=HISTARCH&A=1
>
############################
To unsubscribe from the HISTARCH list:
write to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
or click the following link:
http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?SUBED1=HISTARCH&A=1
|