18th-Century Fruit Preservation Discovery

18th-Century Fruit Preservation at Mount Vernon

• Archaeologists unearthed 35 glass bottles containing preserved cherries and berries (likely gooseberries or currants) in George Washington's Mount Vernon home cellar.
• The bottles, dating to the mid-1700s, were likely buried before 1776 and forgotten after Washington left for the American Revolution.
• The discovery is part of a $40 million revitalization project at Mount Vernon.
• The preservation of the food is remarkable; nearly 250 years later, the fruit is still intact.
• The bottles originated in England.
• The preserved fruits were carefully sent to USDA scientists for analysis.
• Initial analysis suggests the cherries were a likely tart variety, contributing to their preservation.

Scientific Analysis and Future Research

• The USDA scientists plan to extract DNA from the preserved cherries to identify the exact species.
• This study would provide insights into Virginia's climate change over time.
• Scientists also aim to germinate cherry seeds, potentially creating a living historical artifact.
• The bottles and fruit represent the daily lives of the people at Mount Vernon, including enslaved members of the community.
• The preserved fruit may have been intended for the Washington family but definitely involved people preparing and storing food.

Explore the fascinating archaeological findings of preserved fruits at Mount Vernon's cellar, originally belonging to George Washington. This quiz delves into the significance of fruit preservation techniques used in the 18th century and the ongoing scientific analysis to reveal the implications of climate change over the centuries.