>Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 15:17:32 -0500
>From: David Breetzke <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Lead fragments from an 18th century graveyard.
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Reply-to: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY <[log in to unmask]>
>
>        During excavations at a Baptist church graveyard (the
>congregation is interested in finding the remains of a 17th
>century church structure),active from 1770-1890, dozens of small
>chunks of lead were recovered from the plowzone (graves were not
>disturbed).   The site location is Middletown, New Jersey.   Any idea
>what, if any, use they may have had?  Thank you in advance for any
>info!
>
>Gerry Scharfenberger
>
 
Gerry,
 
Assuming that you are near a church, and since your lead
fragments are small, I would suggest the following:
 
(1) Lead cambs used to hold window glass.  The lead pieces will have
slats for glass.  Pretty common in 18th century churches.  If you
haven't ruled this out yet I would bet you dollars to doughnuts that
this is what you have.
 
(2) Lead plugs and jambs used to hold together wrought iron fencing.
Sometimes hot lead is poured in gaps so that the fence doesn't clank.
More common in the nineteenth century.
 
(3) Lead weights for tassles, pull cords etc.
 
Any of these fit?
 
Glaspider
 
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