Notes
This lead ball is a piece of shot. This small sized shot was manufactured by a technique invented by Prince Rupert in the seventeenth century. In this process, molten lead fluxed with arsenic is poured over coals in a colander like instrument which in turn is set above a barrel of water which cools the lead balls as they fall from the pan. This process produces a shot with a distinct dimple and shape as can be seen in this artifact.
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, combined with the presence of faunal remains from wild species, indicate residents of the House for Families had access to guns for hunting.
Measurements for this object were recorded in the following fashion: length measured perpendicular to dimple on one plane, width measured perpendicular to dimple on another plane, and height measured from dimple to opposite end.
Object Type
All Other ArtifactsHas it Been Conserved?
No
Where Was It Found?
Project Site: House for Families [more details]
Material
Manufacturing Technology
Form
Completeness
Date
18th century
Country of Origin
Dimensions
3.01mm x 2.42mm x 2.95mm (W x H x L)
Illustration shows object in comparison to the size of a quarter
Weight
0.1 gram(s)
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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