A wide variety of artifacts have been found at Site B that give the archaeologists clues about the buildings, activities, and lives of the people who lived and worked at Poplar Forest. Many of the objects shown here are iron, a type of metal used for a large number of objects in the early 19th century, and unfortunately one that begins to deteriorate immediately upon removal from the soil of an archaeological site. In order to keep the iron artifacts from turning into piles of rust, they are sent to a conservator. The primary goals of iron conservation are to remove any corrosion already formed while in the ground and stop the process of further deterioration. The removal process is accomplished through mechanical cleaning with a scalpel and an air-abrasion machine. After mechanical cleaning the objects are degreased and cleansed in a 100% ethanol bath. To inhibit further corrosion iron objects are then treated with 5% tannic acid/water, giving the objects the black color characteristic of conserved iron. A final coat of 10% Acryloid B-72/ acetone provides additional protection and creates the shiny surface seen in some of the photographs (Young 2007). In order to further protect these objects, all iron is stored in containers with beads of silica gel to remove any moisture that could cause the process of corrosion to begin again. Online exhibits such as this one allow us to display these fragile objects without removing them from the stable environments in which they are stored.

Fragment of a skillet before, during and after conservation. (Click here to view more images of artifacts before, during and after conservation.)

After removing obscuring corrosion during the conservation process it is often easier to identify the original function of many of these objects. Several of the iron artifacts shown here are related to locks, perhaps suggesting a building requiring a measure of security stood at or near Site B. Other iron objects such as eating utensils and skillet fragments tell us that people were living close by. Certain types of artifacts, not necessarily made of iron, also give us a glimpse into the more personal lives of the people who lived and worked in the areas around Site B. These people were most likely slaves associated with Poplar Forest during Jefferson’s retirement years. Buttons, beads, and even lace tips suggest that fashion and expression through clothing was an important aspect in the enslaved community (see Heath 1999). Other objects show the ways people took everyday objects, such as clay tobacco pipes, lead, and coins, and personalized them or used them for more traditional African American practices.