The background photo is a strong image of archaeological investigation and recording, tasks essential to the process of dating. It shows many of the tools of the trade.

The star artifact graphic, the two pipes with artifact notes, reinforces the text regarding dating and illustrates another element of the process.

Other inset photos and graphics illustrate other artifacts used in the dating process; pottery for material, style and markings, and coins.

Theme Text
Artifacts help archaeologists date sites. Coins are a prime example. A coin inscribed with the year it was minted indicates the earliest possible date for the deposit in which it is found.

Clay tobacco pipes, glass bottles, earthenware pottery and other ceramic vessels can also provide chronological information, because styles, decoration and maker's marks changed with the passing years. At the same time, there are differences among tobacco pipes or pottery produced in various regions: clues which help identify commercial and personal links between Newfoundland and the Old World.

Star Artifact
The variety of 17th century clay tobacco pipes reminds us that material culture changes over time, as styles evolve. Such stylistic change helps archaeologists to date the artifacts and thus the various contexts that they excavate. (CgAf-2: various, smallest about 1600, largest about 1700)

Display Case
See Artifact List.

South Somerset Coarse Earthenware Pan - CgAf-2: 47198 - Holman's Fort, 1690s

Rim, Base and Handle Sherds Grey Westerwald Coarse Stoneware Mug - CgAf-2: various - Holman's Fort, 1690s

North Devon Sgraffito Plate Rim - CgAf-2: 119356 119836ab, Manter House, 1660-1690

Drawer 1

"John Strang" Merchant of Bideford, Devon, about 1707 - CgAf-2: 189167 - Street

Coins and Bottle Seals - It's easy to say how old some artifacts are—if there's a date written right on them. This is often the case with coins and sometimes with bottle seals. Since coins or even bottles may be in use for years, such artifacts do not date their deposit, but give a maximum age.
See Artifact List.

Drawer 2

Barnstaple, North Devon, pipes of 1700, fragments

Pipes - The style of clay tobacco pipes varied. As the cost of tobacco fell over time, bowls became larger, while stems became longer and stem bores smaller, as smokers sought that elusive cool smoke. Maker's marks and decorative motifs came and went. These and other features also varied among production centres. Thus some West Country pipes look different from London or Bristol pipes.
See Artifact List.

Drawer 3
Ceramics - Ceramics came in a wide variety of wares. In the 17th century, for example, the kilns of the North Devon ports of Bideford and Barnstaple produced a distinctive coarse earthenware, excavated today in sites from Virginia to Newfoundland. Each ware is found in various vessel forms. The North Devon potters were known especially for cooking vessels, tall "butter pots", milk pans, and scratch-decorated "sgraffito" slipware dishes.
See Artifact List.

© 1999, Colony of Avalon Foundation.

Revised March 2002.