In recent years, archaeologists have unearthed a wide array of historic finds, from an ancient wine shop to a 2,000-year-old snack bar in Pompeii, and even presidential bottled cherries. Now, a new discovery in Dover, England, is adding to that list—a potentially 400-year-old bar and smoking lounge.
Earlier this year, the Canterbury Archaeology Trust uncovered a collection of broken bottles, ceramic jugs, and clay tobacco pipes at a dig site in the southeastern town of Dover. According to a Dover District Council spokesperson, these objects may be linked to an inn or tavern that once stood in the area. The site is believed to be the location of a tavern known as the “Phoenix,” dating back to the 17th or 18th century. Unfortunately, the tavern, much like its namesake, has not been preserved for future generations.
While the full details of the bottles discovered remain unclear, the ceramic fragments offer more insight. The pieces include parts of Bellarmine jugs, also known as Bartmann jugs—distinctive stoneware vessels shaped to resemble bearded men. These jugs, which were popular across Europe from the 16th century onward, were commonly used for a variety of purposes, including wine decanting.
This excavation adds another intriguing chapter to the ongoing exploration of Dover’s rich historical landscape, shedding light on everyday life in 17th-century England.
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