Historical Archaeology in Wachovia: Excavating Eighteenth Century Bethabara and Moravian Pottery

Some of the most interesting of South's finds concern the confluence of two traditions of pottery and stoneware production. One of these is represented by 40 pottery wheel-thrown types and forms made by the master German potter Gottfried Aust between 1755 and 1771, excavated from the ruin of his shop and kiln waster dump. Additional work at both Bethabara and Salem recovered the waster dumps of Aust's journeyman potter Rudolph Christ, who had also studied with the Staffordshire potter William Ellis. Christ's wares, which demonstrate both German and English influences, are discussed in detail.