Photo:Mount Vernon Ladies Association
In May 2024, the archeological community recieved exciting news.
Buried in an old cellar beneath George Washington’s home of Mount Vernon laytwo bottlescrafted in the 18th century.
Within the sealed bottles, archeologists discovered the remains of cherries picked before the founding of the United States.
Photo:Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
The find has the potential to affect everything from botany to how scholars interpret the history of Virginia.
They were found in the cellar region, and they appear to contain cherries and other kinds of berries.
Preservation was an important way to store food in pre-refrigerator days.
Photo:Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
Scientists are anxious to study the contents, so they have been extracted and placed into refrigeration.
The United States Department of Agricultures Agricultural Research Service plans to help analyze these biological remains.
Mount Vernon Principal Archaeologist Jason Boroughs noted, These extraordinary discoveries continue to astonish us.
Photo:Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
Underneath George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, 35 bottles were discovered.
Photo:Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
Photo:Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
Photo:Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
Photo:Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
Photo:Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
