QUARTZ ARROWHEAD

The hilltop on which Fort Dobbs was built had been used by American Indians as a hunting camp many years before the arrival of the English. Stone tools, such as this arrowhead were quickly supplanted by European iron goods once trade began. Most of the Cherokee who attacked Fort Dobbs used firearms.

IRON NAIL

Although the log walls of Fort Dobbs were connected by joints, the doors, stairs and any interior walls would have required the use of hand-forged nails. 300 such nails have been found at the site.

BUCK SHOT

When Fort Dobbs was attacked on February 27, 1760, the first shot fired by each provincial soldier included one large musket ball and seven smaller buck shot. These multiple projectiles would scatter in a wide cone and could potentially hit several enemy soldiers at once.

BISON TEETH

The bones of pigs, deer and even Buffalo that have been unearthed, give historians a clue about the diet of the soldiers at Fort Dobbs.

GLASS BOTTLE

Several fragments of dark green glass bottles were recovered at Fort Dobbs. The bottles, stored in the cellar of the building, would have contained spirits for the consumption of the garrison.

PORCELAIN TEA CUP SHARD

Despite being on the edge of the British Empire, many fragments of fine Chinese porcelain have been found at Fort Dobbs. Most of these are the remains of tea pots, cups and plates that were used by officers such as Colonel Hugh Waddell.

SLEEVE LINKS

The wristbands of men’s shirts in the 1750’s were often closed by a set of buttons linked by a piece of wire.

BRASS STOCK BUCKLE

Many civilians and soldiers wore a band of linen around their neck over their shirt collar. Such a “neckstock” would be fastened in the back by a buckle.

GLASS BUTTON

This button features a brass back that has a decorative piece of blue glass as an inset.  Such fancy buttons likely would have closed the waist coat of a wealthier gentleman visiting the fort, such as Governor Arthur Dobbs, who came to the site in the summer of 1755.

CLAY PIPE

Pipes made of white kaolin clay were imported from Great Britain to her colonies by the thousands.  Such pipes would have been used by soldiers and civilians alike as they took their tobacco and represent an extremely common find at 18th century sites.