mobile icon
Toggle Nav
My Cart
Close
  • Menu
  • Setting

unearthing a former parking lot yields a wealth of artifacts from chicago's past

beginning last week we were notified of a major excavation where a former parking lot will be redeveloped for condo construction. consisting of several lots, this massive parcel of land once contained multiple brick and wood-framed dwellings, according to sanborn insurance maps dating back to 1886 and another from 1917.

after only a few short days into the dig, the backhoe managed to unearth limestone foundations that once supported victorian era structures demolished long ago. during the excavation several ash piles, cisterns and privy pits were discovered. an impressive field of buried debris, comprised largely of rubble left from the time of demolition, was in great abundance.

despite having to work around these cumbersome piles of brick and stone, we managed to find a number of pockets that yielded bottles, china, bones, and other odds and ends left by the occupants that called this area home. as of this writing, the material recovered and later cataloged dates between 1885-1930. however, there are areas that have yet to be excavated that may very well contain artifacts dating back to the civil war. at least one known frame dwelling resided on one of the lots. hopefully we will discover an intact, wood or brick-lined privy filled with pontiled bottles and other period artifacts that would offer insight into the living conditions of chicagoans during that time.

the images below provide several examples of bottles shortly before they were removed from there original resting place. the galley offers an assemblage of bottles and assorted pottery and/or china found at the site. one group represents late 19th century artifacts found in pockets dug from a greater depth, whereas the other group features depression era milk bottles, utilitarian bottles, etc., found near the surface.

 

 



Some Of Our Clientele

WORDLWIDE SHIPPING

If required, please contact an Urban Remains sales associate.

NEW PRODUCTS DAILY

Check back daily as we are constantly adding new products.

PREMIUM SUPPORT

We're here to help answer any question. Contact us anytime!

SALES & PROMOTIONS

Join our newsletter to get the latest information

Close