Dark Green Wine Bottle Bottom (Archaeological Find)
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Title:
Dark Green Wine Bottle Bottom
Subject:
Although Harvard was founded with the initial goal of educating strict Puritan ministers, who would have expected an excavated wine bottle glass bottom to reveal a secular college with escapades of secret drunkenness among the Harvard scholars in later years? This glass bottle bottom dates to a period approximating 1800, based on the narrower bottle diameter, as compared to earlier years, plus the tall kickup inside the bottle bottom (Hume 1969, 68). Moreover, it likely originated from England (Hume 1969, 68). Substantial bottle glass was excavated near this item, plus other items corroborating this time period, such as cut nails, whiteware, and transfer paint. President Leverett’s tenure at Harvard during the early 1700s brought a more liberal attitude towards religion, and therefore alcohol (Morison 1986, 54). By the late 1700s, wine was sold by the Harvard Buttery, but the Book of Laws specifically prohibited the scholars from visiting taverns, and especially drunkenness (Harvard 2016a, 59). However, the Harvard scholars managed secret antics, such as the story of one student whose group of 40 visited the local tavern to get drunk, break glasses and return to their chambers in an uproar (Harvard 2016b, 46). Thus, when excavating pieces of glass, it may be a sign of a rambunctious night from years ago!
Creator:
Christian Shigley
Source:
Harvard University Library. 2016a. “The Laws of Harvard College, 1798-1799.” Colonial North American Project at Harvard website. Accessed October 15, 2016. http://colonialnorthamerican.library.harvard.edu/items/show/7786.
Harvard University Library. 2016b. “III. Diary, 1799.” Colonial North American Project at Harvard website. Accessed October 16, 2016. http://colonialnorthamerican.library.harvard.edu/items/show/7632.
Hume, Ivor N. A Guide to Artifacts of Colonial America. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1969.
Morison, Samuel E. Three Centuries of Harvard, 1636-1936. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1986.
Object Name:
Dark Green Wine Bottle
Inventory Description:
Whole bottom of a dark green wine bottle
Peabody Number:
2016.29.1111
Intrasite:
H941 Level 1
Depth:
28-42
Class 1:
Glass
Class 2:
Bottle Glass, partial bottom
Class 3:
Dark Green