Exposed foundations of Mount Clare’s Orangery, circa 1989.

Exposed foundations of Mount Clare’s Orangery, circa 1989. Courtesy of the Baltimore Center for Urban Archeology.

Archaeology

Archeological explorations have taken place at Mount Clare for more than 30 years. Excavations uncovered the foundations of the original outbuildings, including the orangery, kitchen, and office wings. Through meticulous historical and archeological analysis, the forecourt and fence were reconstructed, the bowling green was rebuilt, the falling terraces regraded, and the orchard replanted.

The Carroll Park Foundation was a driving force in researching, replanting, and pruning the orchard’s heirloom fruit trees in the early 2000s.

The Carroll Park Foundation was a driving force in researching, replanting, and pruning the orchard’s heirloom fruit trees in the early 2000s. Courtesy of the Carroll Park Foundation.

While excavating the forecourt, archeologists discovered that the original stone and wooden fence mirrored the shape of the Palladian window in the two-story Doric Portico.

While excavating the forecourt, archeologists discovered that the original stone and wooden fence mirrored the shape of the Palladian window in the two-story Doric Portico. Courtesy of NSCDA-MD.

Yellow Spanish cherries harvested from the replanted orchard in 2014.

Yellow Spanish cherries harvested from the replanted orchard in 2014. Courtesy of the Carroll Park Foundation.

Artifacts

The archeological artifacts discovered offer important but incomplete glimpses of the lives of Mount Clare’s inhabitants, including the enslaved people and indentured servants who worked and lived here. Very little material evidence has surfaced about Mount Clare’s unpaid laborers, including the location of their living quarters.

All of the excavated artifacts are currently being housed by the City of Baltimore.

All of the excavated artifacts are currently being housed by the City of Baltimore. Courtesy of the City of Baltimore.

A rare artifact believed to be a spiritual object belonging to an enslaved person was discovered at Mount Clare in 1986. During excavations of the original kitchen, archeologists discovered a 4-inch, heavily worked colorless crystal along with a sherd of a Chinese porcelain bowl, a piece of clear glass, and some wrought iron nails. Initially thought to be a random grouping, the cache of objects was later identified by archaeologist George Logan as an intentionally buried object.

Archeologists believe the objects were part of a medicinal bundle, known as a nikisi, that stems from West African spiritual practices. It was likely buried in the doorway of the kitchen around 1760 by an enslaved person looking to invoke some spiritual power or protection imbued in the bundle. These types of bundles have been discovered at hundreds of colonial sites in the Southeast, usually buried near hearths or in the corners of enslaved peoples quarters. They very likely demonstrate spirituality being used to empower individuals against the daily hardship of plantation life.

This crystal, seen from both sides, is believed to have originated from Western Maryland. It was excavated by archeologists with other objects and soil dating from 1760, under the kitchen doorway at Mount Clare

This crystal, seen from both sides, is believed to have originated from Western Maryland. It was excavated by archeologists with other objects and soil dating from 1760, under the kitchen doorway at Mount Clare. Courtesy of the City of Baltimore.

Several bone buttons and blanks were discovered at Mount Clare. The enslaved had to manufacture their own clothing and made bone buttons in the absence of metal buttons. Cow and pig bones were soaked in water, vinegar, or soda ash to make them more malleable and then were cut with a machete or other sharp tool into thin, flat sheets. A metal tool called a bit would be pressed into the flat bone and then turned to carve out a circular disc, which would then be polished. The remnants of bone with holes are called button blanks.

The back side of the bone is pictured, showing the rough edge.

The back side of the bone is pictured, showing the rough edge. Courtesy of the City of Baltimore.

At least one cowrie shell was found during the excavations. Cowrie shells come from snail-like creatures that live in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. For thousands of years cowries have been used in rituals, as ornamentation in jewelry and clothing, and even as currency in South Asian and African cultures. They have been associated with womanhood, fertility, wealth, and birth. Cowries were imported, often as “packing peanuts” for export china from South Asia, and then used by Europeans to purchase kidnapped, enslaved individuals from coastal West African people. This cowrie is tangible evidence that enslaved people carried part of their African identity with them across the Atlantic.

The shell may have been worn as a piece of jewelry or adornment on clothes.

The shell may have been worn as a piece of jewelry or adornment on clothes. Courtesy of the City of Baltimore.