Mackinac State Historic Parks archaeology announces new find

Staff reports
·2 min read
Archaeologists at the Mackinac State Historic Parks Colonial Michilimackinac excavation site recently uncovered a set of joined buttons, similar to modern day cufflinks, on Wednesday.
Archaeologists at the Mackinac State Historic Parks Colonial Michilimackinac excavation site recently uncovered a set of joined buttons, similar to modern day cufflinks, on Wednesday.

MACKINAW CITY — Although the 64th annual archaeology field season is winding down for the year, the last day being Aug. 20, researchers are still unearthing artifacts.

Archaeologists uncovered the most recent find, a set of joined sleeve buttons, on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

“We are still finding interesting artifacts,” said Dr. Lynn Evans, Mackinac State Historic Parks curator of archaeology. “This set of joined sleeve buttons, like a modern cuff link, was found in the 1781 demolition rubble layer. The green glass paste 'stones' are set in brass.”

More: Mackinac State Historic Parks Archaeology uncovers two artifacts

Earlier this season, archaeologists uncovered part of a red earthenware bowl, a one-ounce brass weight marked with a crown over GR, for the king, a second brass weight from a set of nesting apothecary weights, stamped with a fleur-de-lis, a King’s eighth button, and more.

The current excavation site is House E of the Southeast Rowhouse at Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City.

Numerous excitinfinds have been made at the site in recent years, including a Compagnie des Indes lead seal dating between 1717 and 1769, a brass sleeve button with an intaglio bust on it, a potential structural post dating to the original 1715 fort, and engraved “Jesuit” trade ring, a brass serpentine side plate for a British trade gun, complete remnants from a creamware plate and many other items.

More: Pocketknife unearthed at Colonial Michilimackinac on July 4

The archaeological dig at Michilimackinac began in 1959, making it one of the longest-running archaeology programs in North America.

House E was first occupied by Charles Henri Desjardins de Rupallay de Gonneville, and later by an as-yet-unidentified English trader.

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Archaeologists are on site every day at Colonial Michilimackinac, weather permitting, through Aug. 20.

Visit mackinacparks.com for more information about the excavation sites and past artifacts that have been found at these sites.

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Mackinac State Historic Parks archaeology announces new find