Crucible sherd with exterior covered in molted glass and slag
Crucible

This object is a portion of a crucible with remnants of glass melted, cooled, and stuck to the inside. A crucible is an “industrial strength” vessel that can withstand the very high heat that glass making requires without exploding. This crucible was identified as Grossalmerode-Hessian in manufacture, and indicates that some of the glass makers that arrived in 1608 were using equipment from Grossalmerode, Germany.

Because of the early date, it is possible that this glass-laden crucible may have been used to produce the “tryal of glasse” that Captain Christopher Newport took to London later in 1608. Another crucible used for testing gold was also found in Pit 1.