CUP

Description: SPECKLED GREY AND WHITE ENAMELED STEEL CUP. HANDLE BROKEN OFF AND MISSING. ENAMEL WORN INSIDE BASE AND AROUND LIP; UNDERLYING METAL RUSTING WHERE EXPOSED. SOME SOIL REMAINS INSIDE BASE.

History: ON 18 DECEMBER 1996, GALT MUSEUM STAFF WERE INFORMED OF THE DISCOVERY OF A (TENS OF) THOUSANDS OF BURIED BOTTLES BY A SITE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FOR MEDICAN CONSTRUCTION. MEDICAN WAS EXCAVATING THE FORMER HOUSE OF LETHBRIDGE BREWERY SITE AT THE TIME OF THE DISCOVERY. IT WAS ON SITE AS PART OF A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO BUILD NEW SENIORS’ CONDO HOUSING. LOCAL PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR ARCHAEOLOGISTS WERE CONTACTED BY THE MUSEUM, BUT NO ONE CONTACTED RESPONDED TO THE SITE. MUSEUM STAFF SELECTED A NUMBER OF INTACT EXAMPLES FROM THE UNEARTHED, FORMER DUMP SITE. IN MANY CASES, THE UNEARTHED BOTTLES PREDATE THE LETHBRIDGE BREWERY AND ALSO ORIGINATE FROM POINTS IN EASTERN CANADA AND THE UK. THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THE BREWERY’S RECEIPT AND DISPOSAL OF THOUSANDS ON NON-LETHBRIDGE BREWERY BOTTLES IS UNKNOWN. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BOTTLES’ DISCOVERY AND THE MUSEUM’S RESPONSE, PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR INFO INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, STAFF IMAGES AND A 19 DECEMBER 1996 LETHBRIDGE HERALD ARTICLE.