Digs: Site Activities
SELECTED DIGS' PHOTOS - May 14-15, 2013, Strong-Howard House, Windsor CT
The approximate manufacture date of a kaolin clay pipestem fragment ("A" in the image) can be determined by measuring the inner diameter. In this case, that diameter (5/64 of an inch) suggests a manufacture date of between 1720 and 1750 ("B" in the image).
More screening being photographed. FOSA member Glenda Rose is assisting here.
Nick Bellantoni and others examine the soil beneath the floor beams.
Additional sampling of soils beneath the floor beams..
End of a day at the site, with the soil area cleaned and the next day's grid areas marked.
Kaolin is a type of clay used for making disposable pipes from the early 17th century thru the late 19th century. Its use was widespread, and age can be determined from several factors, including bowl design and pipestem diameters. The latter was developed by J. C. Harrigton.
Information on kalolin clay can be found by clicking Britannica Information on the Harrington method (as well as others) can be found by clicking Pritchard Shipyard Kaolin Pipe Analysis, a South Carolina archaeological paper.