Notes
This artifact is a strip of lead sprue waste, related to the production of gang molded lead shot. Some shot molds were capable of casting a single ball, and others, called gang molds, were capable of casting several shot all at once. In this latter type, molten lead was poured into the top of the mold and traveled along a narrow channel to a series of spherical casting chamber. Once cooled enough to retain its shape the molds were opened and the shot removed. Each ball would be attached by a small stem to a sprue which resulted from the lead hardening in the channels of the mold. Shot were then clipped off the sprue for use, and the sprue might be melted again for further casting.
Shot were used in a variety of firearms in the eighteenth century, including muskets, rifles, and pistols. The presence of this and other firearms related artifacts at the House for Families, and faunal remains of wild mammals and birds indicate residents of the House for Families would have had controlled access to guns for hunting. Moreover, the presence of this sprue indicates that individuals may have been casting and producing their own shot at Mount Vernon.
Object Type
All Other ArtifactsHas it Been Conserved?
Yes
Where Was It Found?
Project Site: House for Families [more details]
Material
Manufacturing Technology
Form
Completeness
Date
Country of Origin
Dimensions
8.39mm x 3.55mm x 55.7mm (W x H x L)
Illustration shows object in comparison to the size of a quarter
Weight
4.6 gram(s)
Object Number
1830464
DAACS Number
1830464
Project: House for Families
The structure identified as the “House for Families” on the 1787 Vaughan plan likely housed the majority of the enslaved population living at the Mansion House Farm for much of the second half of the eighteenth century. The building was in existence from circa 1760 until it was demolished in late 1792 or early 1793. The archaeological evidence for the structure consisted of a brick-lined storage cellar (44FX762/40-47) measuring roughly six feet by six feet. Historically the cellar served as a handy trash receptacle once it ceased to be used for its original storage function, and through extensive excavation has yielded an extremely rich assemblage of household refuse. The analysis of these remains offers the opportunity to study important aspects of the daily lives of Mount Vernon's enslaved community.
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