I am trying to identify a bullet from a trash pit near Cabool, Texas
County, Missouri.  The pit collection dates from about 1850s with a
maximum closure date of about 1880-1890.  The bullet resembles a
Sharps round but has a stem with a small hole in the base.  Conjecture for
the stem includes:  cottage/small scale production of the round for
captured weapons, attachment for a paper or linen cartridge, or an
exploding round.  It appears to have been formed in a two piece mold.
This area saw some action during the Civil War with the
near by town of Houston burnt twice.
 
I have a TIF and BMP scan of it for interested parties or can
fax an image.
 
Other associated finds include a musket ball, gun butt plate, some
presently unidentified cartridges, sparse glass, moderate
ceramics (largely hand painted or plain and crockery), machine made
square nails, horse tack, some cutlery, and kilos of bone
(rabbit, squirrel, fish, pig, cow).  The feature was basin-shaped and
fairly large (3 x 2.5 m) with possible piers suggesting primary use
as a sub-structure partial cellar.  I hit an edge in a 1 x 1 on a
Phase II, so I still have more questions than answers!
 
Metrics:
 
Total length (mm)  :  28.9
Max width             :  14.7
Length of stem       :  5.15
Width of stem        :  9.04
Weight (gr)             :  31.9
 
 
Thank you,
 
James P. Harcourt
Missouri Department of Transportation
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