Experts have discovered century-old cherries remarkably well-preserved in two glass jars stored in the historic home of George Washington in Virginia.
On April 24, the Washington Post reported that archaeologists found these jars during excavations as part of a restoration project for the estate of the first President of the United States, known as Mount Vernon.
The two glass jars containing aged cherries were found at George Washington’s estate in Mount Vernon, Virginia. (Photo: Loop Images/Universal Images Group).
The jars date back to the 1740s and 1750s and were excavated beneath a tile floor that was constructed in the 1770s.
To help preserve the approximately 250-year-old glass jars, researchers transferred the contents—cherries, pits, stems, and “slimy residue”—into smaller jars for further analysis.
“We not only retrieved intact, sealed jars but also discovered organic material that can provide valuable insights and perspectives on life in the 18th century at Mount Vernon,” said project leader and archaeologist Jason Boroughs to the Washington Post.
He added, “These jars have the potential to enrich the historical narrative, and we are excited to analyze the contents to share this discovery with fellow researchers and the public.”
Scientists speculate that the cherries may have been harvested at Mount Vernon in the 1770s, possibly before the Revolutionary War, and were preserved for later use.
Experts believe that a significant portion of the yellow liquid could be groundwater that seeped into the jars as the corks degraded over time.
The archaeological team was astounded when they fortuitously found the large jars and recognized they contained organic material, including intact cherries that also exuded the scent of cherry blossoms.
These jars were imported from England during the colonial period, and the cherries were likely picked by enslaved individuals on the grounds of the Washington family’s large estate overlooking the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.
