Artifact of the Week: Chinese Bowl Fragments

Archaeologists recovered these hand-painted Chinese bowl fragments from Block 112 in Downtown San Diego. This section of San Diego housed a working class population during the late Victorian period (c.1880-1915).

The artifacts on Block 112 tell the story of an oftentimes under-represented group in American history. The inner-city working class survived the challenges of harsh living conditions, which lacked the infrastructure that we take for granted today. In a search for prosperity, they settled into a new life on Block 112. However, they maintained connections to their own heritages. The story of the working class on Block 112 informs us not only about the history of San Diego but also about what it means to be an American.

Date: Post-Contact Period (300 ya – present)
Material Class: Ceramics

Want to learn more? Visit the exhibit Block 112: The Untold Story of San Diego’s Working Class in the 1800s currently on view at the Center.