CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – Archaeologists removed four items from a time capsule that was buried at the base of the ancient monument to John C. Calhoun.
Items include what remains of a cannonball believed to have come from the Battle of Sullivan’s Island and three tin containers.
The smallest of the containers may contain a lock of hair from Calhoun himself.
But archaeologists said the largest of the tin containers appeared to be closed by welding. Rust and corrosion stains, believed to have come from cannonball, can also make opening tin containers a challenge.
The next step would be to carefully determine the safest way to cut the weld and corrosion to open the containers without causing damage to the internal contents. Until that happens, there is no way to know the status of the content.
The crews made the long-awaited discovery on January 23, while continuing to clean up the area where the monument to the former statesman stood for 124 years.
Historians say the capsule was originally buried in 1858, eight years after Calhoun’s death. But it was moved twice, ending at its final resting place at the base of the statue.
Experts expected the time capsule to contain a variety of items that could include an iron cannonball, several tin boxes containing paper and a lock of Calhoun’s hair. There may also be fabrics and a loaded band in Calhoun’s funeral procession.
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