One metal button (Cat. No. 5-92-78) was found in the 1992 field
season on the surface of the east beach of Bothwell Island. The disc of
the button measures 16.8 mm in diameter and is 1.0 mm thick. A round
wire loop, 5.7 mm across, has been brazed onto the centre of the back face of the disc and is
slightly bent to one side. The primary material of this button appears to be brass, but some iron
rust can be seen on its back surface; no evidence for gilding or other types of plating was found.
More useful results are obtained when the CbGu-5 button form and manufacturing
technique are compared to those from other sites, but some difficulties of identification remain.
Within the button typology developed by Karlis Karklins for Nottingham House, a Hudson's Bay
Company post occupied from 1802 to 1806, the CbGu-5 example most closely matches brass
button Type A: "One-piece buttons composed of a stamped disc with a copper or, less
frequently, brass wire alpha shank brazed to the back. There are no marks resulting from
manufacture" (Karklins 1983: 71). The lack of a shank on 5-92-78, as discussed below, is the
main difficulty with this categorization.
Excavations at Signal Hill National Historic Park in St. John's, Newfoundland, recovered
a number of buttons similar to the CbGu-5 specimen, from the period of
c. 1800 to 1860. According to Edward Jelks' button classification
system, 5-92-78 conforms to Form I, which is defined by a flat metal
disc and a wire eye loop. The closest description of this loop is Eye
Attachment A, although the ends of the wire loop are not bent to form a
shank. None of the Signal Hill designs match the 5-92-78 motif,
although one (Design 24) has a similarly stippled background (Jelks
1973: 81-85, cf. Figure 86).
The Bothwell Island button can also be fit into Lyle Stone's typology for the button from
Fort Michilimackinac, Michigan. According to this system, it would be classified as Class I
Series C Type 1, assuming that the design on the disc was cast rather than stamped. The only
variety for this type, however, does not match 5-92-78; it has a convex face and U-shaped eye
(Stone 1974: 49).
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The main difference between the above typologies and 5-92-78 is that the ends of the eye
wire are not bent outwards to form a 'foot' or shank; rather, the edge of the loop itself is directly
brazed to the disc. While difficulties remain in making firm typological matches, one
unprovenienced button from the early nineteenth century (Adams 1995: Figure 32i) is very
similar in form, although not in decoration. The combination of a flat metal disk with a soldered
eye, as seen on 5-92-78, was the most common form for coat buttons in the first quarter of the
nineteenth century (Adams 1995: 98). It is to this period that the Bothwell Island brass button
most likely dates. | 
5-92-78 eye loop |
When this time period and the provenience of the button are both taken into
consideration, it can be speculated that it was in some way connected with the LaRonde Post phase of the La Vase Island Site (c. 1795 to 1821). This item could conceivably have belonged
to a member of the La Ronde family, a visiting Native or a voyager passing through the La Vase
portages.
6.2.5 Glass
Michael Barnes
I) Container Glass
97-367 CbGu-5
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Two body sherds (cat. No. 97-376) of dark green glass have an interior surface that is
"orange peel", while the interior of the bottle is smooth. This feature is commonly found on
bottles where the method of manufacture is mould blown. The larger fragment represents a
basal portion that contains the pontil mark (created from the rod used to form the push up). One
end extends as far as the heel but is fractured at the resting point. Both these specimens belong
to the same vessel, but the specific portion of bottle anatomy is not identifiable. The only
datable qualities with this vessel would be that it dates before 1850 after which pontil marks
were not present on bottles from newer methonds of manufacture (Adams 1995:99).
Specimen 97-353, (also dark green in colour) represents the body to the neck
(collectively referred to as the shoulder). On the exterior surface of the shoulder portion, is a
common diamond motif decoration. The small portion of the neck that is connected lacks this
decoration. The diamond motif decoration becomes rather distorted. The reason for this comes
from the method of manufacture. This vessel
could have been
formed using a "contact mould" indicating that a
viscous glass was
blown in a mould to form a specific shape, makers
mark, decoration,
or a combination. Since the specific type of
contact mould
cannot be identified, it must still be termed as
"mould-blown"
(Jones et al. 1985:23). The final (and most
probable) method
of manufacture for 97-353 was from "pattern moulding". Pattern moulding could create a
number of designs such as diamonds, ribs, stars, etc. This technique is similar to contact
moulding where viscous glass is blown into a mould and may be finished through a free-blown
technique. Further analysis of this vessel is impossible due to its fragmentary nature, save the
fact that it appears in good condition, without air pockets indicating nineteenth century
manufacture.
One colourless fragment (cat no. 97-407) represents the shape of a "true octagonal"
body. This portion includes the edge connecting the base, resting point, heel, and body.
Measuring the diameter of this vessel was not possible to calculate, however the octagonal angle
is at 135 degrees. The function of this container is not known, however it was common that ink
bottles and tumblers were formed in clear, octagonal glass.
Specimen 97-354, also colourless, is rather undiagnostic. One end (most likely the
superior) has a lip, with incised ridges. The inferior portion has a circular section embossed but
without any decoration, or makers mark. Further analysis on this vessel would be pure
speculation.
Four unidentified body sherds without analytical features are present in dark green
coloured glass. Ten fragments (also unidentifiable) are light green in colour, and are most likely
from a modern soda bottle (similar to that of 7-Up or Sprite).
Finally one specimen that deserves special commentary is that of 97-362. This body
fragment appears to have use marks on its exterior edges. Striations or grooves are evident on
the exterior surface. At one end (in the direction of the striations) the edge appears to have been
retouched and worn down (possibly as the working or cutting end). The opposite edge has been
smoothed out possibly (if used as a hand tool) to prevent cutting the user. If in fact this
specimen was a tool (most likely a uniface scraper), the striations may represent use wear marks
from the surface on which it was being used. Similar finds have been made by ASI (1996) from
the LaVase Island, and also from the Garden Island Site (Dibb and Sweetman 1995:27). This
may suggest that fragmented glass fashioned as scrapers have been the product of the European
occupants (possibly the LaRondes).
Flat Glass
The term "flat glass" is sometimes used when discussing window glass (Dibb and
Sweetman 1995:27). Seven fragments of window glass were recovered from 1997 excavations.
Dating window glass is achieved through measuring its thickness. According to Adams
(1995:104) window glass with a thickness less than 1.6mm dates before 1845, while window
glass that dates after 1845 is greater than 1.6mm. Of the seven fragments in this assemblage,
five are less than 1.6mm, ranging from 1.51-1.59mm. Two fragments are greater than 1.6 and
are 1.81-2.4mm.
Three fragments (catalogue numbers 97-360 and
97-421) are of a mirror. All three have a painted back.
Although the paint has deteriorated, the front side still has
a section where the reflection can be seen. The three
fragments can be partially reconstructed to form a small
circular palm sized mirror of 36.5mm in diameter, and a thickness of
1.05mm. It is not known if this small mirror would have been encased
within something (a pocket watch). Analysis on the metallic residue
used in early mirrors from Karklins (1983) on samples from the
Nottingham House showed a varying combination of mercury, tin, lead,
and traces of silver. It seems, that this sample is similar to the one
described from Karklins, and that it was typical for these mirrors to
loose the quality of their "silvering".
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MEDICINAL
Like many early medicinal concoctions, "Perry Davis Pain Killer"
contained mostly alcohol and opiates. Because it was a registered trade
brand name, it was not necessary to make its ingredients public.
Becoming famous in the United States during the cholera epidemic of
1849, this "vegetable elixir" was thought of as a "wonder drug" and distributed by Christian
missionaries around the world. This remedy was created by Mr. Davis in 1840, and registered in
1845. The distinctly shaped bottle was introduced in 1854. This item was readily available in
Canada as one could order it from an Eaton's Catalogue. Finally, this item could be purchased in
the local drug store shelves throughout the early and mid 1900's.
97-508 CbGu-5
| Specimen 97-508 is several reconstructed fragments of the left side of the bottle,
including the print "..IN KILLER", derived of course from "Pain Killer". A complete bottle
includes the name "DAVIS" on the front of the bottle, while on the right edge is the word
"VEGETABLE". |
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The fact that the word "vegetable" is used in the name is quite ironic since this
concoction lacked vegetable ingredients. The shape of this bottle indicates that it would date
after 1854, and it can therefore be concluded that it is not related to the LaRonde Post
occupation.
 Back to the Lavase River/Fort Laronde
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