Staff Writer
A
colonial time capsule was found in Boston at the Massachusetts State House
while repairs were being made to the building on December 11. Workers stumbled
upon the artifact while they were repairing a water leak near its resting
place. The time capsule is the oldest known American artifact ever uncovered.
The cigar box-sized time capsule is 219 years old, placed by Paul Revere and
Samuel Adams in 1795.
Historians
believe they know what is inside because of acquired documents from Revere and
Adams. They theorize that there is probably a collection of silver coins, a
plate, and a Revere-inscribed plaque, but nobody knows for sure. The head of
object conservation at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, Pamela Hatchfield, spent
hours chiseling away at the stone block in which the time capsule was contained.
When she finished five coins spilled out from the entombment. Historians say
that the coins were a measure of good luck tossed in by the revolutionary
heroes. Those who desire to know what’s in the box will have to wait. Boston’s
Museum of Fine Arts will X-ray the copper box then decide whether or not to
open it.
Surprisingly
enough, this is not the first time this particular artifact has been uncovered.
It was first discovered in 1855 during emergency repairs to the building, which
houses the legislature and governor's offices, and was planted again when the
cornerstone was reset. This time, though, there is no intent of putting it
back. It will remain in Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts until officials decide to
open it.
