Mount Vernon

While excavating George Washington’s cellar during the Mansion Revitalization Project, Mount Vernon’s archaeologists discovered two intact European-manufactured bottles. The dark green glass bottles were found upright and sealed, each containing liquid. The bottle shapes are characteristic of styles from the 1740s – 1750s and were recovered from a pit where they may have been forgotten and eventually buried beneath a floor laid in the 1770s. After the bottles were unearthed, each was carefully removed and transported to the Mount Vernon archaeology lab. Cherries, including stems and pits, were preserved within the liquid contents. The archaeological discovery of preserved fruit from the 18th century is extremely rare and has occurred only three times in Virginia’s history. Learn more about these exciting finds: https://bit.ly/3WfgPLj Also, get an in-depth look at the process of finding these bottles in the article featured in The Washington Post by Michael E. Ruane: https://wapo.st/3Jsoez6