UnCovered
Decoration or Symbol of Resistance?

By:  FCPA

During excavations in 2017, Fairfax County archaeologists recovered four refitting pieces of a decorated ceramic plate. After some research, laboratory archaeologists determined that the plate commemorated the 1802 Treaty of Amiens, which ended 1792-1802 hostilities between France and England stemming from the French Revolution.

This English-made ware was popular in the United States from 1802 until 1807, when President Thomas Jefferson instituted an embargo against the British. The artifact is somewhat odd, as the United States limited participation in the hostilities to primarily naval actions against the French in the West Indies during the “Quasi-War,” which had been settled prior to the Amiens treaty. Other examples of this plate have been recovered from excavations in the City of Alexandria, Virginia.

The location of the artifacts’ recovery is peculiar. They derived from a cellar hole on a site interpreted as slave quarters due to the recovery of other artifacts strongly associated with enslaved people. Perhaps the plate was handed down from the enslaver to the enslaved. Enslaved persons may have intentionally selected the plate for its decorative quality or for symbolic

Photographs and images are not available for use by other publications, blogs, individuals, websites, or social media sites. For this and other stories on Annandale and Annandale History see the chamber's website and read The ENDEAVOR News Magazine.

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Caricature on the Peace of Amiens by James Gillray Title: The first Kiss this Ten Years! —or—the meeting of Britannia & Citizen François SUMMARY: A tall, thin, French officer kissing a fat, richly dressed, seated Britannia. His hat and sword lie on the carpet. Britannia's shield and trident rest on the wall behind her chair. Above them are portraits of George III and Napoleon, facing each other.   ~  Wikipedia

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Photographs and images are not available for use by other publications, blogs, individuals, websites, or social media sites. For this and other stories on Annandale and Annandale History see the chamber's website and read The ENDEAVOR News Magazine.

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