An archaeological dig began in 1999, in Brooklyn to uncover the remains of the Dutch Lott House. Due to asbestos within the house, excavations could only be made outside until the asbestos was removed. There are different eras associated with the house since more was added on from the original building. A garbage pit revealed a deposit of clam, oyster and conch shells with a coin from 1817 below it, showing that the deposit was made sometime after 1817. Many artifacts from the 1840s and 1860s were found in the trench such as bottles of opium, porcelain dolls, and ironstone which revealing the time period it was used during. It was believed that the house held African American slaves as well. Initially a plate was found marked with an X on the bottom, a typical characteristic of items owned by slaves to identify them. Once the crew moved inside the house they found a trap door that led to a small room without windows, which housed one of the Lotts’ slaves and was eventually used as part of the Underground Railroad. The evidence collected in addition to prior knowledge and pictures about the house, revealed that in the 1720s this home belonged to a Dutch family, and stayed in the family for the next 300 years during which it was transformed multiple times.
Archaeology.org
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