"James Citty," like all other settlements in all ages, had to have
places for disposal of refuse. That much refuse was disposed of by
casting it in the James River is unlikely, since before the dawn of
history it has been a trait of man to live on top of his own refuse
rather than litter a shore with it. While it may be that no pits were
dug purposely for refuse disposal, pits opened for brick or ceramic clay
(or dug for ice houses, wells, or other purposes and later abandoned)
were used for dumping trash. In 1955 a refuse pit almost 40 feet square
was discovered in the "industrial area" near the workshop, ironworking
pit, and pottery kilns. Filled with trash from the first half of the
17th century, this pit contained such artifacts as a swepthilt rapier
(made about 1600), a cutlass, the breastplate and backpiece of a light
suit of armor, a number of utensils of metal, ceramics, and glass, to
add to the collection of early 17th-century arts and crafts. Several
smaller refuse pits were noted, and it is worth commenting that many
ditches finally became trash accumulation areas.
[Illustration: A CUTLASS IN EXCELLENT PRESERVATION AND MANY OTHER
OBJECTS FROM 17TH-CENTURY JAMESTOWN WERE FOUND IN A LARGE CLAY BORROW
PIT FILLED WITH REFUSE.]