Excavation of a seventeenth century pottery kiln at Glebe Harbor, Westmoreland County, Virginia

Abstract

In the Spring of 1973 the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission’s Office of Archaeology conducted salvage excavations at the site of a seventeenth century earthenware pottery kiln at Glebe Harbor subdivision, Westmoreland County, Virginia. The excavations revealed a kiln foundation which consisted of an oval oven with four radiating firemouths and a recessed airduct system. A quantity of waster coarse earthenware was recovered. Historical records strongly suggest the kiln was in operation only during the year 1677.