Two bottles were found in the cellar of the Virginia mansion of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Inside the bottles were 200-year-old cherries.
Mount Vernon Chief Archaeologist Jason Boroughs said, “This incredible discovery at Mount Vernon is an important archaeological find. Not only have we recovered intact, sealed bottles, but they also contain organic materials that can provide us with valuable information and insight into 18th-century life at Mount Vernon.”
The dark green glass bottles were found still sealed and upright. Their shape dates them to the 1740s or 50s. They were sealed with a brick floor.
Once uncovered, the bottles were transported to the Mount Vernon archaeological laboratory for analysis.
After consulting with archaeological conservators, it was determined that removing the liquid contents would help stabilize the glass, which had not been directly exposed to the atmosphere for nearly two centuries.
The cherries were very well preserved, including the stems and pits.
Scientists think the cherries were probably picked on Mount Vernon in the 1770s, potentially before the Revolutionary War, and stored for later use.
The bottles will be at Mount Vernon until the end of the month, after which the bottles will be preserved and samples of the contents sent to a laboratory for further scientific analysis.
