Historic Bethabara Park Archaeology Collection

Historic Bethabara Park maintains a large collection of archaeologically recovered objects. The vast majority of these artifacts are ceramics created by Bethabara's early potters, Gottfried Aust, Rudolf Christ, Johann Gottlob Krause, John Butner, and Joseph Butner.

Most of the materials used to create pottery in Bethabara were mined locally. The clay was primarily dug from a pit just outside of the fort's southwest corner. Silica, manganese oxide, and iron oxide were found in the local soil and rocks. Lead oxide and copper oxide were imported from outside of Wachovia.

The pottery produced in Bethabara was made from red and white clay. Each of the potters produced utilitarian wares such as crocks, apothecary jars, milk pans, and roof tiles. They also produced finer pottery like tea cups and saucers, egg cups, tea and coffee pots, plates, and bowls. The finishes ranged from unglazed redware to highly ornate multi-color slipware.