Featured Fragment Blog
Delaware We Have Contact!: A Copper Alloy Arrowhead from the John Dickinson Plantation
By: Bill Liebeknecht A copper alloy projectile point or “arrowhead” was recently recovered by Dovetail Cultural Resource Group during an archaeological survey at the John Dickinson Plantation near Dover, Delaware. Work was conducted on behalf of the Delaware Division...
That’s not a knife! This is a knife. Or is it?
By: Andy Martin Today we’re talking about one of the less-discussed pieces of the Native American/pre-contact tool kit…the knife. There has been seemingly endless amounts of ink spilled about projectile points and axes and pottery but believe me (I’ve looked) there’s...
“Poppin’ Medicine Bottles”
Featured Fragment –“Poppin’ Medicine Bottles” By Katie Merli Medicinal, pharmaceutical, and chemical bottles have a distinctive look to them, even today. Informative labels, child-proof closures, and even the well-known “Mr. Yuk” stickers from our youth set these...
Common Cents Archaeology
By: Joe Blondino Most of the artifacts that archaeologists find don’t give us an exact date for when they were used or deposited on a site. Typically, artifacts are assigned a “type”, and each type has a date range that is generally accepted based on previous...
Living on a Prayer: What a Rosary Fragment Can Tell Us About the Urban Landscape in Alexandria, Virginia
By: Kerry S. González In recent excavations in the City of Alexandria, Dovetail recovered a portion of a rosary, specifically the crucifix and a section of the antiphon. Rosaries are used in Catholicism as a form of meditative prayer, and each rosary contains three...
Diamond-Notched Tobacco Barn a Precious Gem?
By Danae Peckler Tobacco barns may still be something of a common sight in central and southern Virginia, but their days are increasingly numbered. Listed as one of Preservation Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Properties in 2009, many are being reclaimed by the...
A Kookpot from Casimir
Featured Fragment –A Kookpot from Casimir By William Liebeknecht Our story starts in 1651 with the construction of Fort Casimir, a colonial fortification built by the West India Company in what is now New Castle, Delaware. The four-sided fort was only lightly equipped...
Every Woman Needs a Little Black Dress
By Kerry S. González and Sara Rivers Cofield In the late winter of 2020, PQ (Pre-Quarantine), Dovetail conducted an archaeological excavation of a family cemetery associated with a branch of the Embrey family in Stafford, Virginia. The small plot contained the graves...
What’s THAT Doing HERE? Unexpected Discoveries at the Strawberry Run Site in Alexandria, Virginia
By Joe Blondino In June 2019, Dovetail conducted an archaeological survey of a project area located along Strawberry Run in Alexandria, Virginia. At first, the project area seemed like it might not have much to offer. Most of the project area was located along the...
While They’re “At Rest,” We’re at Work: Identifying Nineteenth-Century Coffin Hardware
By Melissa Butler In death, as in life, mass-marketed applied ornaments allow individuals to customize their belongings. This month’s artifact is one such decoration. Dovetail Cultural Resource Group (Dovetail) recently completed an archaeological excavation and...
Coins, Balls, Bats, and Bases: A Few Fragments on Fredericksburg’s Ties to America’s National Game
By Kerri S. Barile On February 22, 1936, over 3,000 people gathered on the banks of the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg and Stafford County, Virginia, to witness history. Former Major Leaguer Walter “Big Train” Johnson attempted to recreate George Washington’s...
Let’s Shed a Little Light on this Blog: A Civil War-Era Sticking Tommy Candle Holder
By D. Brad Hatch This month’s post highlights an object recovered from a Civil War battlefield and campsite in Virginia. Rather than being associated with fighting, however, this object speaks to the daily lives of soldiers during the war. The object is a cast iron...