Animation of the Day: Iron Jaw Harp from James Madison’s Montpelier

by Bernard K. Means, Director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory

Today’s animation is an iron jaw harp that was recovered archaeologically from James Madison’s Montpelier.  This object was scanned, edited, and animated by Virginia Commonwealth University alumnus Rachael Hulvey. The jaw harp is a musical instrument played by placing the frame against one’s teeth or lips and plucking a reed, often of metal, that is missing from this conserved specimen.

Animation of the Day: Storage Feature from the Johnston Site

by Bernard K. Means, Director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory

 

Today’s animation is storage feature from the Johnston site, a Monongahela village located in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.  The site was recently excavated by archaeology faculty and students from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Using the Sense scanner on the storage feature.

Animation of the Day: Blue Shell Edged Plate from James Madison’s Montpelier

by Bernard K. Means, Director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory

Today’s animation is blue shell edged plate that was recovered archaeologically from James Madison’s Montpelier. It was scanned by Rachael Hulvey, who created this animation.

Animation of the Day: Tooth Brush Handle Fragment from James Madison’s Montpelier

by Bernard K. Means, Director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory

 

Today’s animation is tooth brush handle fragment that was recovered archaeologically from James Madison’s Montpelier. It was scanned by Rachael Hulvey, who created this animation.

Animation of the Day: Pipe Stem from James Madison’s Montpelier

by Bernard K. Means, Director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory

Today’s animation is pipe stem that was recovered from James Madison’s Montpelier. It was scanned by Rachael Hulvey, who created this animation.

Animation of the Day: Iron Skeleton Key from James Madison’s Montpelier

by Bernard K. Means, Director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory

Today’s animation is an iron skeleton key that was recovered from James Madison’s Montpelier. This iron skeleton key was found in the stable quarter’s at James Madison’s Montpelier and dates to the 19^th century.  It was used to secure goods with a padlock. Given the location of this finding, it appears that either an enslaved gardener or an enslaved blacksmith used the key to lock up their equipment. This object was scanned and edited by the Virtual Curation Laboratory’s Rachael Hulvey.  A video produced for Instagram by Archaeology in the Community in the Virtual Curation Laboratory features Rachael discussing the object, using a printed version made with a MakerBot Replicator.  The InstaGram video can be found here: http://instagram.com/p/i4Dem8qqTI/#