The letters stamped & incised were initials, while the numbers may indicate weight or quantity. It's virtually impossible to attribute marks to their makers, but these seals suggest serious global commerce in Boston even during the first few decades of the settlement. (3/3)
#Boston #archaeology

The first seal shown here (photo 1&2) is stamped with a quatre de chiffre or foursquare marking. The markings remain similar over time starting from the Middle Ages in Europe. Varying marks inside the “squares” indicate the craftsperson or merchant. Do you see any markings on the other seal? (2/3)

Edited a typo: According to expert Catherine Davis, in 13th century Europe, guilds began to emerge. With this also came government inspectors. Alnagers inspected goods & applied these seals. But the alnage system entitled them to 50% of all confiscated goods, so you know it was ripe for abuse.

This one has 7 dots, a crest on the front and the back, and some writing around the edge that we can't read. Feel free to give it a shot in the comments!
#Boston #archaeology #digBOS #Charlestown #trade #commerce #17thcentury

In the last couple of weeks, we've come across multiple lead seals, all dating to the 17th century. Don't worry, we'll show you the rest next week! Keep an eye out and see if you can detect any patterns in the style of stamps used.

The system was finally abolished in 1724. Interestingly, there is evidence that the design of the stamps would be continually tweaked (often changing the number of little dots over the crest) to make it harder to create counterfeit seals.

The stamps were meant to indicate the maker, amount, quality, and type of good. Basically, these were meant to keep purchasers from getting taken advantage of and to make sure taxes on goods were getting paid.

We've been working our way through the City Square collection excavated in Charlestown from 1985-87. This artifact is a lead seal and would be attached to a bolt of fabric or the wrappings of other goods, similar to a clothing tag today.

By proactively documenting them, we will ensure that the important data they contain is preserved and used to provide a more complete understanding of our shared past! (3/3)

#Boston #archaeology #bostonharborislands #BHICAP

This important work will document the impacts of climate change & increasingly severe weather on the islands & their vulnerable archaeological sites. Native people have used the islands for thousands of years. As each year passes we see the coastlines of these islands erode more and more. (2/3)

Follow the BPL link below for more information: bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/688d1...

Come connect with your city’s hidden history! 🌟

#bunkerhill250 #digbh250 #digboston #digcharlestown #America250 #BattleofBunkerHill #1775

Plus, get a sneak peek at what’s coming up in our next round of fieldwork happening right here in Charlestown over the next few months.

We’ll be sharing results from our recent excavations in Charlestown, uncovering underrepresented stories connected to the Battle of Bunker Hill and the burning of Charlestown - voices and perspectives often left out of traditional narratives.