Reference Collections Project
Reference collections are a valuable teaching tool for staff, interns, and volunteers. These collections contain examples of the hundreds of different artifacts, both prehistoric and historic, in our collection. The collections are especially helpful to student interns in securing employment…
Artifact of the Week: Frozen Charlotte Doll
Frozen Charlotte is a name used to describe a specific form of china doll made from c. 1850 to c.1920. The dolls had substantial popularity during the Victorian era. The name Frozen Charlotte came from an American folk ballad Fair…
Artifact of the Week: Harmonica Piece
Archaeologists recovered this harmonica reed plate from Downtown San Diego. The site housed a working class population during the late Victorian period (c.1880-1915). Although life has its challenges for the inner-city working class, they were able to find time for…
Artifact of the Week: Game Pieces
Archaeologists recovered these Go game pieces from Downtown San Diego. The site housed a working class population during the late Victorian period (c.1880-1915). Go is an abstract strategy board game for two players. The aim is to surround more territory…
Artifact of the Week: Beer Bottle
Archaeologists recovered this beer bottle from Downtown San Diego. The site housed a working class population during the late Victorian period (c.1880-1915). This bottle would’ve had a cork stopper. Because the Post-Contact Period is so short and the Euro-American population…
Artifact of the Week: Bone Toothbrush
Archaeologists recovered this bone toothbrush from Downtown San Diego. The site housed a working class population during the late Victorian period (c.1880-1915). The bristles would have been boar bristles. Artifacts made of bone are not commonly found in the San…
