Archaeologists study artifacts to learn more about what life was like in the past. Artifacts are anything that was made or modified by humans. The Center for Archaeological Studies has unearthed millions of artifacts from sites across the Gulf Coast. Check out some of the highlights here.
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Aerophone
Center for Archaeological Studies
This aerophone was found at the Old Water Street Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Chamber Pot
Center for Archaeological Studies
This chamber pot was found at the South Royal Street Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Mobile Cadets Button
Center for Archaeological Studies
This Mobile Cadets Uniform Button was found at the Old Water Street Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Pocket Watch
Center for Archaeological Studies
This pocket watch was found at the South Royal Street Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Qing Dynasty Coin
Center for Archaeological Studies
This Qing Dynasty coin was found at the Union Hall Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Soto & Primo Bottle
Center for Archaeological Studies
This Soto and Primo Druggists bottle was found at the Union Hall Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Stone Tool
Center for Archaeological Studies
This stone tool was found at the Virginia Street Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Vase Made in Occupied Japan
Center for Archaeological Studies
This vase was made in Occupied Japan. It was found at the Maryland Street Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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1896 Mardi Gras Badge
Center for Archaeological Studies
This 1896 Mardi Gras Badge was found at the Union Hall Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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1916 Street Car Token
Center for Archaeological Studies
This 1916 Mobile Streetcar token was found at the Virginia Street Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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19th Century Mineral Water
Center for Archaeological Studies
These mineral water bottles were found at the Virginia Street Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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19th Century Schnapps
Center for Archaeological Studies
This 19th century Udolpho Wolfe's Scnapps bottle was excavated by archaeologists as part of the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeology Project, an effort to excavate and record 15 archaeological sites in the I-10 corridor as it crosses Mobile Bay.
This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. The I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Bone Die
Center for Archaeological Studies
This bone die was found at the South Royal Street Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Dating Historic Bottles
Center for Archaeological Studies
Historical bottles contain clues that tell us how, when, and where they were made. This video was created as part of the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeology Project, an effort to excavate and record 15 archaeological sites in the I-10 corridor as it crosses Mobile Bay.
This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. The I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Faience Plate
Center for Archaeological Studies
This French faience plate was found at the Union Hall Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Glass Skate
Center for Archaeological Studies
This glass skate was excavated during the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeology Project. The project took place in Mobile's Down the Bay neighborhood and included an oral history project. Many people shared memories of skating in the neighborhood, especially on Christmas Day.
This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. It includes an audio clip from Wilbur Coleman Nesbitt's interview with Dr. Kern Jackson for the Down the Bay Oral History Project in 2022.
The I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Gulf Coast Pottery Sherd
Center for Archaeological Studies
This pottery sherd was found at the Virginia Street Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Hoyt's Cologne Bottle
Center for Archaeological Studies
This Hoyt's Cologne Bottle was found at several archaeological sites near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Jos. A. Magnus Bottle
Center for Archaeological Studies
This Joseph A. Magnus Whiskey bottle was found at the Union Hall Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Meyer Jossen & Co. Whiskey Jug
Center for Archaeological Studies
This Meyer Jossen & Co Stoneware Jug was found at the Virginia Street Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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Owen Farley Pitcher
Center for Archaeological Studies
This Owen Farley pitcher was found at the Virginia Street Site near downtown Mobile during excavations for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.