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Got stuck digging a foundation hole near an old farmhouse and hit something that wasn't rock
I was digging a footing for a retaining wall on a property outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania about 2 months ago. The soil was normal topsoil for the first 2 feet, then my shovel hit something solid that didn't feel like field stone. I chipped away at it and pulled out a clay pipe stem about 4 inches long with a rough, handmade look to it. Then I found part of a broken plate with blue floral design on white ceramic. I set them aside and finished the job, but the next day I brought them to a guy at the local historical society. He said the pipe was likely late 1700s and the plate was transferware from the 1840s. Now every time I dig on old properties, I slow down and pay attention to what comes up. Has anyone else accidentally dug up old artifacts on a worksite? What did you do with them?
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