Food Serving Vessel Found with an Antebellum House at the Riverfront Augusta Site. (Source: New South Associates, Inc.).

 

 

 

 

Toothbrushes from the Riverfront Augusta Site.  During the nineteenth century, toothbrushes were made from carved and polished animal bone and the bristles were held in place with copper wire.

The archaeological study of the Riverfront Augusta Site provided insights into life in the Springfield District before and after the Civil War. The neighborhood saw the landscape change over time and these changes brought differences in the ways people used material things.

Most of the archaeological finds related to the antebellum period came from the Springfield house, which was not aligned to the street grid and was on flood-prone land near the river. Documents suggest that the property owner pio to the Civil War resided elsewhere. This fact, coupled with the house's architecture, hinted that the house might have been built and used by squatters rather than a lawful owner or tenant. Some who owned the property would probably have built a more substantial house on more stable ground. This finding contributes to the picture of Springfield's early settlement being improvisional and unauthorized.

In addition to the house’s construction, other archaeological finds hinted that an African American family lived there. Among ceramic artifacts found, there were more bowls than plates. This is important because this is a pattern found at other African American sites, mostly slave settlements. Archaelogists believe that this ratio of bowls to plates has cultural significance because many of the African and presumably African American cooking traditions center on stews, sauces, and other dishes that are best served in bowls. Comparing the relative costs of ceramic vessels from the house indicated that on average the family spent more on bowls than on plates, which would be expected if bowls were the most important serving and eating containers.

Archaeologists also examined food remains from the Springfield House. The site’s residents consumed a variety of wild and domesticated products. Plant remains indicated that they ate pecans, figs, and radishes. Animal bones included deer, turtle, turkey, and geese, while domestic animals were chicken, cattle, and hogs. Archaeologists have found that lower economic status households often made use of a wide array of animals, particularly wild species. In addition, the pork cuts included jowls and feet, which are associated with African American food traditions.

In summary, the antebellum residents of the Riverfront Augusta Site were squatters. The building traditions seen in the house, the types and costs of cooking and eating containers, and the types of foods consumed hint that the members of this household were African American. These results provided insight into the nature of settlement and life in Springfield during its earliest years.

Dinner Plate with Molded and Painted (“Shell Edge”) Rim from the Riverfront Augusta Site.  This type of plate was commonly found in American households during the 1800s.

Click on image below to see details

A. Soda Water Bottles Found at the Riverfront Augusta Site.  Soda water usually came flavored with lime, lemon, orange, or strawberry extract.  The two blue bottles on the left were products of the local Augusta firm of John Ryan, while the one next to them was produced by F. McKinney of Philadelphia. B. Patent Medicine Bottles from the Riverfront Augusta Site.  Bottles such as these were common during the nineteenth and early twentieth century.  They contained various products that usually advertised cures for multiple conditions.  Finding containers such as these provide a glimpse into the daily life, health concerns, and habits of past residents of the Springfield neighborhood C. Liquor and Spirit Bottles from the Riverfront Augusta Site.  The two dark green bottles (left) were commonly used for wine, beer, or other spirits while the two flask-type bottles contained other types of liquor. D. Spring and Mineral Water Bottles from the Riverfront Augusta Site.  The bottle on the left is made of stoneware ceramic, while the two glass bottles contained products from companies based in West Virginia and New York.