MACKINAW CITY — The historical finds keep coming at the archaeological dig site at Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City.
After finding a pair of sleeve buttons last week, archaeologists this week have found several pieces of ceramics that match a bowl uncovered earlier this summer, a possible sugar bowl, and a pocketknife.
The bowl was uncovered at the start of the field season, in early June. Archaeologists have since recovered four matching rim sherds, one of which is part of a spout. The curator of archaeology now believes it may be a milk pan rather than a bowl.
The sugar bowl was discovered Tuesday. The pocketknife was discovered by field supervisor John Cardinal on Wednesday, Aug. 17. It marks the third pocketknife found in the site, but the first in that area.
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In addition to the potential milk pan and sleeve buttons, archaeologists have found a one-ounce brass weight marked with a crown over GR, for the king, a second brass weight from a set of nesting apothecary weights, stamped with a fleur-de-lis, an 8th Regiment button, and more.
The current excavation site is House E of the Southeast Rowhouse at Colonial Michilimackinac.
Numerous finds have been made at the site in recent years, including a Compagnie des Indes lead seal dating between 1717 and 1769, a brass sleeve button with an intaglio bust on it, a potential structural post dating to the original 1715 fort, and engraved “Jesuit” trade ring, a brass serpentine sideplate for a British trade gun; complete remnants from a creamware plate; and many other items.
The archaeological dig at Michilimackinac began in 1959, making it one of the longest-running archaeology programs in North America. House E was first occupied by Charles Henri Desjardins de Rupallay de Gonneville, and later by an as-yet-unidentified English trader.
Archaeologists are on site every day at Colonial Michilimackinac, weather permitting, through Aug. 20.
Visit mackinacparks.com for more information.