Unraveling the Past Using Zip Locking Bags to Unearth History

Plastic Zip Locking bags on orange bucket

Welcome to the captivating archaeological dig at 10 S. Front Street in Wilmington, NC, where the layers of history are carefully unveiled. This location, which was once a lively hub of pubs, peanut processing, and a hardware shop, now has the potential to disclose remarkable insights into the lives of the people who worked, lived, and relaxed here in the past. However, the excavation entails more than simply searching for artifacts; it requires carefully organizing and safeguarding various objects. Let's not only delve into the historical significance of the site but also shed light on how smaller heavy-duty plastic zip-lock bags play a crucial role in the preservation and categorization of artifacts such as ceramic, porcelain, clay pipe parts, buttons, glass items, coins, cutlery parts, and even weapon components. The larger 12" x 15" bags protect animal bones, shells, nails, glass, charcoal, and coal.

Porcelain possibly imported from the Netherlands

Reviving the Tavern Culture: Organizing and Protecting Artifacts

While excavating through the many layers of history, archaeologists have discovered various objects that offer unique insights into the time period in question. Each piece, whether a shard of ceramic or porcelain or a piece of a clay pipe, has its own tale to tell about the people who formerly lived in and frequented the thriving tavern culture of the late 18th century. Smaller heavy-duty plastic zip-lock bags are used to guarantee the proper preservation and protection of these sensitive objects.

These antiques are protected from the elements and contamination by being stored in plastic bags, which also act as a barrier between the artifacts and the environment. Each relic is handled with extreme caution when it is placed inside of its corresponding bag. The bags are painstakingly labeled to provide essential information regarding the artifact's location inside the site. This methodical approach contributes to the protection of these priceless artifacts and makes it easier for historians and archaeologists to conduct research and carry out analyses more efficiently.

12x15 bags full of material from 1 unit, 2 smaller bags with individual fragile ceramic items (artifacts 5 and 2 photos), the 2 smaller outlying bags have small pieces of ceramics and glass

Tracing the Peanut Processing Era: Ensuring Artifact Integrity

The excavation has now reached the 19th century, and evidence of a peanut processing factory has been discovered. This historical endeavor has yielded such a diverse range of artifacts as buttons, glass items, coins, portions of cutlery, and even weapon components, which is a testament to the enterprise's multidimensional nature. Nevertheless, the work of maintaining and organizing such a wide variety of objects presents its fair share of obstacles.

The more compact, heavy-duty plastic zip-lock bags are used to accommodate these one-of-a-kind discoveries carefully. Each item, regardless of how delicate or small it may be, is given its own "safe house". These bags protect the antiquities from damage caused by the environment and stop contamination from spreading from one item to another. The careful structure guarantees that academics may analyze and interpret the importance of each artifact with confidence, which enriches our understanding of this era in peanut processing.

Smaller bags with ceramics, glass, clay pipe pieces

The Legacy of the Hardware Store: Safeguarding Fragile Artifacts

As the 19th century gave way to the 20th, this location served as the location of a prosperous hardware store, which eventually revealed its very own treasury of antiques. The excavation continues to uncover a wide variety of fragile objects, including porcelain utensils, glass bottles, and ceramic plates, all of which require the utmost care in their handling and preservation.

These more compact, heavy-duty plastic zip-lock bags rise to the occasion and fulfill the role of a protective layer for the fragile relics left over from the past. Because of their ability to be resealed, researchers can securely access the relics for the purposes of further investigation and analysis without jeopardizing the artifacts' authenticity. The bags also serve as a tool for record-keeping, ensuring that the history of each artifact is accurately documented, allowing for the precise reconstruction of the historical narrative associated with the site.

Showing the support base of a column in Unit 13 (a 100 years later)

The Fire's Impact: Safely Preserving Larger Artifacts

The catastrophic fire that heralded the end of the age of the hardware store also left behind a variety of larger artifacts, such as the bones of animals, shells, nails, shards of glass, charcoal, and coal. These were among the things that were found. The additional issues they provide make the care and storage of these larger things more difficult.

In response to this challenge, the excavation crew uses larger heavy-duty plastic zip-lock bags measuring 12 inches by 15 inches. These bags offer plenty of room for storing even the most cumbersome relics. These bags shield the animal bones and shells from deterioration due to exposure to the elements while ensuring that the nails, glass shards, and charcoal are safely contained within a consistent environment. The team uses these bags to ensure that the significant artifacts are undamaged and that their context and relationship to the site are saved for future research purposes.

The archaeological dig at 10 S. Front St. in Wilmington, NC, is a remarkable journey through time, providing invaluable insights into the lives and cultures that once thrived at this site as far back as 1760 in the current level of excavation. Beyond the historical significance, the meticulous use of smaller and larger heavy-duty plastic zip-lock bags adds an essential layer of protection and organization to the artifacts. From the tavern culture to the peanut processing facility and the hardware store, each artifact finds its rightful place within these durable bags, ensuring their preservation for future generations. As the past is unearthed, it is building a lasting legacy for future researchers and history enthusiasts, safeguarding the story of 10 S. Front St. and its contribution to the rich tapestry of human history.

A sieve or sifter refers to a wire mesh screen that is employed for the purpose of straining or separating small fragments or objects from loose dirt.

Table of Contents

Welcome
Protecting Artifacts
Artifact Integrity
Safeguarding Artifacts
Preserving Artifacts

Unraveling the Past: Unearthing History & Safeguarding Artifacts at 10 S. Front St. in Wilmington, NC

Reviving the Tavern Culture: Organizing and Protecting Artifacts

Tracing the Peanut Processing Era: Ensuring Artifact Integrity

The Legacy of the Hardware Store: Safeguarding Fragile Artifacts

The Fire's Impact: Safely Preserving Larger Artifacts