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Massachusetts Historical Commission

Cross Street Backlot Artifacts

  • Spoon - Latten (an alloy of brass). This style of serving spoon was made in the 17<sup>th</sup> century. The three-spooned mark identifies the spoon as being of English origin; the exact details and date on the mark are unfortunately indecipherable.

    Spoon - Latten (an alloy of brass). This style of serving spoon was made in the 17th century. The three-spooned mark identifies the spoon as being of English origin; the exact details and date on the mark are unfortunately indecipherable.

  • Cast iron door key.

    Cast iron door key.

  • Handle - Wood

    Handle - Wood

  • Knife Blade - Iron

    Knife Blade - Iron

  • Ointment Pot - Tin-glazed earthenware. This footed fragment is one side of a small, square pot that once had a matching removable lid.

    Ointment Pot - Tin-glazed earthenware. This footed fragment is one side of a small, square pot that once had a matching removable lid.

  • Smaller Stopper - Horn

    Smaller Stopper - Horn

  • Pin Cushion - Copper alloy. This miniature bucket held a small cloth bag filled with horse hair or hay to serve as a pin cushion.

    Pin Cushion - Copper alloy. This miniature bucket held a small cloth bag filled with horse hair or hay to serve as a pin cushion.

  • Bale Seal - Lead. Bale seals were used to seal a bale of cloth.

    Bale Seal - Lead. Bale seals were used to seal a bale of cloth.

  • Architectural tile - Tin-glazed earthenware. These decorative tiles generally surrounded fireplace openings. This tile depicts a camel carrying heavy bundles. The Chinese style Wan Li corner motif was commonly used on English tiles manufactured between 1600 and 1650.

    Architectural tile - Tin-glazed earthenware. These decorative tiles generally surrounded fireplace openings. This tile depicts a camel carrying heavy bundles. The Chinese style "Wan Li" corner motif was commonly used on English tiles manufactured between 1600 and 1650.

  • Architectural tile - Tin-glazed earthenware. These decorative tiles generally surrounded fireplace openings. Dutch and English painters occasionally decorated tiles with scenes from the New Testament. This tile depicts a Biblical scene of two angels.

    Architectural tile - Tin-glazed earthenware. These decorative tiles generally surrounded fireplace openings. Dutch and English painters occasionally decorated tiles with scenes from the New Testament. This tile depicts a Biblical scene of two angels.

  • Tankard Lid - Pewter

    Tankard Lid - Pewter

  • Gaming piece - Stone

    Gaming piece - Stone

  • Hair comb - Bone. The larger-toothed comb was used for combing hair, while the fine-toothed side was used to remove lice.

    Hair comb - Bone. The larger-toothed comb was used for combing hair, while the fine-toothed side was used to remove lice.

  • Jar - Lead-glazed redware. Archaeologists believe that Katherine Nanny Naylor may have thrown this jar out because it contained a bad batch of cherries. The nearly complete jar was recovered from the privy and the interior glaze is stained with acidic cherry juice.

    Jar - Lead-glazed redware. Archaeologists believe that Katherine Nanny Naylor may have thrown this jar out because it contained a bad batch of cherries. The nearly complete jar was recovered from the privy and the interior glaze is stained with acidic cherry juice.

  • Colonial sewing kit - Needle case (bone). Katherine, like most 17<sup>th</sup>-century women, probably was a competent seamstress and needle worker. Archaeologists found parts of Katherine’s sewing kit, including pins, a pail-shaped pin cushion, a bone needle case, thimbles, and a wooden spool. As wealthy women, Katherine and her daughters probably focused on fancy needlework, leaving the dressmaking to servants.

    Colonial sewing kit - Needle case (bone). Katherine, like most 17th-century women, probably was a competent seamstress and needle worker. Archaeologists found parts of Katherine's sewing kit, including pins, a pail-shaped pin cushion, a bone needle case, thimbles, and a wooden spool. As wealthy women, Katherine and her daughters probably focused on fancy needlework, leaving the dressmaking to servants.

  • Colonial sewing kit - Thread spool (wood). Katherine, like most 17<sup>th</sup>-century women, probably was a competent seamstress and needle worker. Archaeologists found parts of Katherine’s sewing kit, including pins, a pail-shaped pin cushion, a bone needle case, thimbles, and a wooden spool. As wealthy women, Katherine and her daughters probably focused on fancy needlework, leaving the dressmaking to servants.

    Colonial sewing kit - Thread spool (wood). Katherine, like most 17th-century women, probably was a competent seamstress and needle worker. Archaeologists found parts of Katherine’s sewing kit, including pins, a pail-shaped pin cushion, a bone needle case, thimbles, and a wooden spool. As wealthy women, Katherine and her daughters probably focused on fancy needlework, leaving the dressmaking to servants.

  • Colonial sewing kit - Thimble (copper alloy). Katherine, like most 17<sup>th</sup>-century women, probably was a competent seamstress and needle worker. Archaeologists found parts of Katherine’s sewing kit, including pins, a pail-shaped pin cushion, a bone needle case, thimbles, and a wooden spool. As wealthy women, Katherine and her daughters probably focused on fancy needlework, leaving the dressmaking to servants.

    Colonial sewing kit - Thimble (copper alloy). Katherine, like most 17th-century women, probably was a competent seamstress and needle worker. Archaeologists found parts of Katherine’s sewing kit, including pins, a pail-shaped pin cushion, a bone needle case, thimbles, and a wooden spool. As wealthy women, Katherine and her daughters probably focused on fancy needlework, leaving the dressmaking to servants.

  • Colonial sewing kit - Scissors (iron). Katherine, like most 17<sup>th</sup>-century women, probably was a competent seamstress and needle worker. Archaeologists found parts of Katherine’s sewing kit, including pins, a pail-shaped pin cushion, a bone needle case, thimbles, and a wooden spool. As wealthy women, Katherine and her daughters probably focused on fancy needlework, leaving the dressmaking to servants.

    Colonial sewing kit - Scissors (iron). Katherine, like most 17th-century women, probably was a competent seamstress and needle worker. Archaeologists found parts of Katherine’s sewing kit, including pins, a pail-shaped pin cushion, a bone needle case, thimbles, and a wooden spool. As wealthy women, Katherine and her daughters probably focused on fancy needlework, leaving the dressmaking to servants.

  • Lawn bowle - Oak. Late 17<sup>th</sup> century

    Lawn bowle - Oak. Late 17th century

  • Glass prunt. A prunt is a blob of glass applied as decoration to the exterior of a vessel. This is a raspberry prunt from Holland and would have decorated a drinking glass.

    Glass prunt. A prunt is a blob of glass applied as decoration to the exterior of a vessel. This is a raspberry prunt from Holland and would have decorated a drinking glass.

  • Cowrie shell. Cowrie shells like this one are native to the Indian Ocean. These exotic objects may have been brought back as souvenirs.

    Cowrie shell. Cowrie shells like this one are native to the Indian Ocean. These exotic objects may have been brought back as souvenirs.

  • Coral. Coral was used as ballast on ships headed to Boston from the Caribbean.

    Coral. Coral was used as ballast on ships headed to Boston from the Caribbean.

  • Shells like this one are native to the Indian Ocean. These exotic objects may have been brought back as souvenirs.

    Shells like this one are native to the Indian Ocean. These exotic objects may have been brought back as souvenirs.

  • Iberian storage jars

    Iberian storage jars

  • Iberian storage jars

    Iberian storage jars

  • Portuguese tin-glazed earthenware plate

    Portuguese tin-glazed earthenware plate

  • Portuguese tin-glazed earthenware plate

    Portuguese tin-glazed earthenware plate

  • English sgraffito plate

    English sgraffito plate

  • Italian red marblized slip-decorated plate

    Italian red marblized slip-decorated plate

  • English Staffordshire plate

    English Staffordshire plate

  • Globular mug, Rhenish stoneware with floral and sprigging

    Globular mug, Rhenish stoneware with floral and sprigging

  • German salt-glazed stoneware Bartmann bottle

    German salt-glazed stoneware Bartmann bottle

  • Straight pins - copper alloy

    Straight pins - copper alloy

  • Straight pins - copper alloy

    Straight pins - copper alloy

  • The Cross Street privy contained over a quarter of a million seeds. Over 95% were cherry and plum pits. Approximately 32 types of fruit seeds and pits were identified.

    The Cross Street privy contained over a quarter of a million seeds. Over 95% were cherry and plum pits. Approximately 32 types of fruit seeds and pits were identified.