There may come a day when future anthropologists shift through the contents of landfills to discover the mysteries of our contemporary era. One might think it strange that our garbage could have some future intrinsic historic value. In all likelihood, it would have seemed just as strange to the long-dead former owner of the ancient pottery sherds, broken tools or cracked pots that were once garbage but now grace prestigious collections in any number of contemporary museums.
Have you ever found a chip of pottery while out for a walk or digging in your garden? It just could be that broken bit of clay is more than a sliver of broken Corelle Dinnerware. If you're lucky, you may have found a clue relating to the history of the area in which you live. The Internet is a great place to go to discover if your pottery sherd has a story to tell. Online resources like those found at Saint Mary's University Archaeology Lab Ceramics Database can help you research your find. This particular site aids in the identification of ceramics found on historic period archaeological sites in Nova Scotia but many common ceramic characteristics are easily traceable to other areas of the country. The site also provides the opportunity to expand your research if you so desire with the site bibliography page which contains a list of Ceramic References.
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