Discovered: Preserved Fruit Belonging to George Washington
George Washington and his spouse Martha had a keen liking for fruits, as evidenced by historical records. A shocking find was made on George's presidential estate: While performing renovations, archaeologists unearthed armfuls of bottles brimming with fruit in various hidden cellars across the property.
A stunning find was made on the estate of George Washington, the first US President: During restoration work, archaeologists stumbled upon several cellars filled with bottles containing loads of fruit in hidden corners of the property.
In all, 35 glass containers were unearthed, with 29 remaining intact. Twelve held cherries, while the others likely held raspberries and blackberries. According to Jason Boroughs, the head archaeologist at Mount Vernon (Virginia), the food was remarkably preserved, as he stated, "Discovering essentially fresh fruit after 250 years is nothing short of phenomenal."
Cherry fragments were found in some bottles, with some pieces recognizable as cherries. Further tests will reveal the identity of the other fruits hidden in the cellar. The cherry pits located in the bottles will be studied to determine if they can be grown.
Cherry Brandy Delight
Historical documents from Mount Vernon indicate that George Washington and Martha held cherries in high esteem, particularly when they were infused with Brandy. A centuries-old recipe for a 'Cherry Bounce' cocktail originated from Martha Washington. It's known that George carried this drink with him in a flask during his excursion to the Allegheny Mountains in 1784.
Boroughs hypothesized that the couple didn't fill the bottles personally. The estate's kitchen was overseen by slaves. "The enslaved people, who tended to the fruit trees, picked the fruit, and worked in the kitchen, were likely responsible for the maintenance and execution of the bottling process," Boroughs said. Their dedication was admirable, as there would be no trace of the fruit today without their hard work.
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Following the exceptional preservation of the fruit, international archaeology experts were invited to study the unique find. It was revealed that the bottled fruits were a common practice in the USA during George Washington's time, often used to preserve produce for future consumption.
