Queen Anne's Revenge
Laboratory Excavation Report
UAB Preservation Laboratory, Fort Fisher
Nathan Henry, UAB Conservator
Wendy Welsh, QAR Conservator Technician
September 2002




Eighty nine artifacts and artifact molds were processed during the month. Molds left in concretions by completely corroded iron objects made up 55% of the material processed. Two casts, made several years ago were cleaned. Plans call for extensive casting of molds in October. Ballast stones, removed from concretions, made up 22% of the artifacts processed. Tobacco pipe fragments, while making up only 6% of the artifacts recovered, were the most significant finds of the month. One nearly complete pipe bowl and several fragments were identical to stylistic pattern attributed to the years 1690-1750. All stem hole diameters equaled those most attributable to the years 1680-1710 (Noel Hume 1982). All pipe fragments have been cleaned and dehydrated. Iron artifacts, not completely corroded, made up a very small percentage of the artifacts, with only one cannon shot and one spike recovered. Interestingly, the spike still had a small piece of twine wrapped beneath the head, presumably to seal the nail hole. Various interesting artifacts included one salt-glaze Rhenish stoneware sherd, a gunflint, several bones (possibly chicken or similar size animal), and a small wad of hair. Most items were completely embedded in concretion, thus illustrating the importance of carefully breaking apart all concretions with an air scribe.

 

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