Excavation of Barrack Hill, a military outpost that included three barracks, a prison, stables, galley and guardhouse located on what is now Parliament Hill, began in spring 2019. The military outpost was established by Lt. Col. John By in 1827 , and was used until 1858, by British soldiers building the Rideau Canal.
“This collection is what the basic soldiers had,” said Stephen Jarrett, archaeologist for the Center Block Restoration.  “It’s very interesting to see what they can afford to buy.”
Vintage finds include a largely intact white and blue pot, coins from the early 1800s, buttons from British military uniforms, dice, a bottle of wine, a bottle of gin, remnants of leather shoe soles, as well as several plates for adults and children.  Jarrett said the artifacts provide insight into what life was like and the level of financial prosperity soldiers must have had to buy alcohol and children’s toys.
“It gives them a personal connection in time with us,” Jarrett said.
Some of the artifacts, including the glass bottles and the dinnerware, are in better condition than others for one reason: the privy.  Without modern plumbing, people in the early to mid-1800s disposed of organic and inorganic material by throwing it away in homes.  Jarrett said that, for the most part, the work to recover those items wasn’t too bad, though he said one former home was still “wet.”
A large white and blue chamber pot sits on a table next to two colored glass bottles.  (CTV National News)
“The context of the mystery allows the survival of inorganic remains such as clothing and skin,” he said, adding that disposing of ceramics and other fragile objects in this way helps ensure they are not trampled upon.  “They survive better.”
While not surprising, Jarrett said the discovery of more than 200,000 items is a record for him.
A pink baby cup, held together with tape, was discovered at the Barrack Hill site.  (CTV National News)
“It’s less about what they’ve found, but what we’ve found that tells us about how the military used the site and lived at the site,” Jarrett said.  Barrack Hill was built to house around 150 soldiers and their families.
What will happen to the artifacts now that they have been cleaned, taped and recorded remains to be seen.
A brass military insignia rests on what appears to be a plastic kitchen tray.  The image of what it would look like appears next to the artifact.  (CTV National News)