In an exciting archaeological find at Mount Vernon, the home of America's first president, 35 glass bottles filled with cherries and berries have been unearthed. The bottles were discovered in five storage pits in the mansion's cellar during an ongoing $40 million revitalization project.

According to a news release from George Washington's Mount Vernon, 29 of the bottles were found intact, containing "perfectly preserved cherries and berries, likely gooseberries or currants." The discovery is considered a rare find, shedding light on the culinary practices of the time.

The 18th-century bottles, believed to be approximately 250 years old, will undergo scientific analysis after being extracted from the pits and refrigerated. They will be sent to an off-site location for conservation since they are composed of fragile materials and foodstuffs.

This recent excavation follows another significant discovery in the same cellar. Two intact European-manufactured glass bottles, also from the 18th century, were found filled with liquid, cherries, and pits. Mount Vernon President and CEO, Doug Bradburn, expressed excitement about the findings, referring to them as an "unprecedented find" in North America.

Mount Vernon's principal archaeologist, Jason Boroughs, highlighted that these bottles and their contents showcase the knowledge and skill of the enslaved people involved in food preparations during that time. It is believed that the bottles might have been forgotten when Washington left Mount Vernon to lead the Continental Army.

Bradburn noted the significance of unearthing these artifacts just before the 250th anniversary of the United States. He also mentioned the team's hope that the cherry pits may still be viable for germination.

To further examine the bottles' contents, Mount Vernon has collaborated with the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service. Upon initial analysis, researchers discovered 54 cherry pits and 23 stems, indicating that the bottles were likely filled with cherries in the past. The cherries' tart variety, known for its acidic composition, may have contributed to their preservation.

Additionally, the cherries are potential candidates for DNA extraction, which could help researchers identify their exact species by comparing them against a database.

This remarkable discovery provides a fascinating glimpse into the culinary practices and lifestyles of the past. The carefully preserved cherries and berries offer a connection to George Washington's Mount Vernon and the early years of the United States, as researchers uncover more secrets hidden beneath the historic estate's grounds.