See the Trove of Treasures Uncovered in North End Archaeological Dig

BOSTON, MA — The city's North End archaeological dig site is almost filled in, leaving behind a trove of artifacts uncovered from as far back as the 1800s.

The dig was led by City of Boston City Archaeologist Joseph Bagley, assisted by volunteers on-site and even online, who were eager to help identify or simply marvel at the uncovered artifacts.

According to the city, the items recovered from the Washington Garden at the Old North Church "revealed a snapshot of English, Irish, Jewish, and Italian immigrant life in the mid to late 1800s, including ceramic pottery, children's toys, and a clay tobacco pipe with an Irish shamrock design."

The area was, in fact, the site of a former toilet and waste disposal area described by Bagley "as one of the best privies unearthed in Boston." (A privy is toilet or waste disposal area often rich in historic artifacts.) Other artifacts that were found include wooden clothes pins, animal bone, religious figurines, medicine bottles, and more.

In a city press release, Bagley said the archaeology helps tells the story of everyday Bostonians often lost to history.

"The main takeaway here is that history is more than just what's been written down," said Bagley. "Lots of personal stories just get lost to time. Archaeology is one of the best ways to reveal those stories, and bring them back from the past. The people who lived in this house did not have the economic means to really be part of the group who were recorded in Boston's history."

The dig was a collaboration between the City of Boston and the Old North Church Foundation, which reached out to the City's Archaeology Program ahead of a new project for the Washington Garden. The Old North Foundation and the Beacon Hill Garden Club will reconfigure the garden into an outdoor classroom featuring 18th century plantings and a large glass-and-water feature etched with Longfellow's poem: "Paul Revere's Ride."

Photos via City of Boston Archaeology Program. Visit their page for many more pictures, details about the items found, and much more.