There are several typical classes of artifacts that are found at New Philadelphia and other historical sites of the same time period. These classes are usually separated by the material that they are made of, then further segregated by their form and function.
METAL
Typical objects found that fall into this category are things such as nails, other constrction hardware, door hinges and knobs, food cans, keys, bottle caps, toys, weaponry, and tools.
GLASS
The most common glass objects are fragments of beverage or food bottles or food storage jars (finding whole bottles is VERY rare), portions of bottles that contained medicines or cosmetic products, and pieces of flat or window glass. Portions of glass decorative objects are occasionally found, as are glass beads, and food storage jar seals that were made of milk glass.
CERAMIC
The typical ceramic artifacts are sherds of kitchenwares: bowls, cups, plates, serving platters, saucers, storage vessels, butter churns, and other items used to serve and eat food. Also found are parts of other household items such as chamber pots, toys (specifically doll parts), or decorative items. There are several different kinds of ceramic, which can then be further divided by their particular finish, decoration, and color.
BONE
Bone is found at archaeological sites primarly as food waste; the leftovers from a chicken, pork, or beef dinner. The bones from wild animals are also often found, there as the result of hunting activity. Animal bones were also carved and polished into other items, such as handles for cutlery, beads, combs, and many other decorative items. Human remains can be found on historical archaeological sites as well, though none have been found or are expected to be found within the New Philadelphia town site.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS
Structural materials such as brick, mortar, plaster, wood, and roofing slate are very common on historic sites. Also found are pieces of the remains of other activities associated with homesteads, such as cinders, charcoal, slag, and coal.
LEATHER AND SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
This category includes artifacts made of plastic, rubber, leather, and other synthetic materials. Items in this category tend to be rarer than others, and some also need more conservation than most of the other types of artifacts.
