Experts Intrigued by Glass Bottles Found at George Washington’s Historic Property

[Cet article a initialement été publié le 24 avril 2024]

A colonial drink or a method of conservation of cherries? Speculations are going well on the nature of the contents of the bottles found at George Washington.

George Washington and Virginia, a love and property story

George Washington, an absolutely essential political figure in the history of the United States, was born in 1732 in Virginia, in a British colony family, which he left in particular during the War of Seven years in 1754, before returning to marry in 1755, where he was elected to the post of delegate in 1774. He was finally elected first president of the United States in 1789.

Virginia is therefore an important and edifying place for the former President of the United States. He began his political career there, and developed his field there. Southeast state of the United States, Virginia is the theater of the early days of the one nicknamed “the father of America”.

Today, we can even visit his house and his historical property, the Mount Vernon, built by his father in 1734 of which he inherited in 1761 and that he will enlarge his whole life.

Centenary cherries enclosed in glass bottles

So that it can always be accessible by the public, many catering works are carried out within the vast house. It is also within the framework of a major revitalization of the property that archaeologists made this incredible discovery: two glass bottles filled with centenary cherries.

According to a press release published by the official site of Mount Vernon, the bottles are dated 1740-1750 (contemporary, therefore, when George Washington lived in Virginia). Also according to the press release, they were buried under a brick floor, placed between 30 and 20 years after their manufacture.

The nature of the contents of elucidated bottles?

According to archaeologist Nick Beard at the Washington Post, the author of the discovery, the discovery zone “was formerly a warehouse”. To preserve these archaeological remains, the researchers emptied the content of the bottles, made up of cherries, nuclei, stems and a“sticky residue”In 15 small bottles. The liquid is still being analyzed, according to Lily Carhart, conservative of the preservation collections of Mount Vernon.

Speculations are going well on the usefulness of the two glass bottles. According to archaeologists, this liquid could be “Cherry Bounce”, a colonial drink made with cherry juice and Brandy, among others. A drink according to them, particularly appreciated by George Washington and his wife … But this theory can potentially be a false track since this type of drink was kept in larger containers.

A “very exciting” discovery

Another proposed track is that it could have been a technique to keep the cherries. The fruits could have been collected by some of the many slaves who were in Mount Vernon (more than 300 according to ownership managers).

“” “It is a very exciting discovery“Said Nick Beard. Indeed, for the world of archeology, this species of time capsule is a remarkable discovery, in particular concerning the state of conservation of these artifacts.”Usually we are dealing with very small fragments. Where we find even the beginning of something that seems to be finished is a really exceptional day for us ” explained Lily Carhart.

If it is so possible that slaves be the authors of this loot, it is because many of them work in the plantations of the house of George Washington. The house itself was so great, that its maintenance should require many hours of work. 21 rooms and gardens that covered more than 2 hectares of property.

Sources : Washington Post, Live Science