A strange and fascinating discovery has recently emerged from a construction site in Cleethorpes, where workers unearthed a 200-year-old bottle containing what turned out to be urine. The bottle, which was initially thought to be a bottle of rum, was discovered by workers digging trenches at a property on Sea View Street in Cleethorpes last year, setting off a wave of curiosity and speculation about its origin.
The curious bottle was quickly analyzed by Zara Yeates, a student from the University of Lincoln, who used cutting-edge scanning technology, typically used in crime scene investigations, to examine its contents. Zara revealed that the workers had originally planned to drink the contents of the bottle, assuming it was alcohol. However, the project manager on site recognized the significance of the object and stopped the workers before they could make any dangerous decisions. “Thankfully, the project manager was on site and recognized the significance of the object,” Zara said. “But after further analysis, we discovered that it is actually urine, not alcohol, so it’s a good thing the manager stepped in to prevent that.”
Determining the age and the contents of the bottle took a combination of forensic and archaeological techniques. The shape of the bottle, which was a distinctive style introduced in 1790, along with its uneven design, suggested that it had been hand-blown. Since molds for making bottles weren’t introduced until around 1840, this helped pinpoint the bottle’s manufacturing period as before that time. To confirm the findings, Zara used a multi-spectral imager to analyze the bottle, and the results revealed that the liquid inside was primarily urine.
The discovery of the bottle has sparked speculation about its possible purpose. Experts at the University of Lincoln have suggested that it could be a “witches bottle,” a type of folk artifact that was traditionally buried to protect homes from evil spirits and to ward off curses. Witches bottles were often filled with bodily fluids, including urine, and buried near doorways or hearths to provide magical protection. Another theory is that the bottle was placed there by a sailor as a good luck charm to ensure a safe voyage, as sailors often used symbolic objects for protection during their travels.
Josephine McKenzie, head of the university’s Conservation of Cultural Heritage department, commented on the rarity of such a find. “It’s not every day we come across an object like this,” she said. “Typically, we find ceramics, textiles, and other materials, but a 200-year-old glass bottle like this is a rare and exciting find. The fact that it is still intact after two centuries makes it even more remarkable.”
Zara’s work in identifying the bottle’s age and contents has been hailed as exceptional by her colleagues. “Zara’s investigation has been groundbreaking, and she has far exceeded our expectations in deciphering both the age and the contents of the bottle,” said McKenzie. “Her expertise in using these advanced imaging techniques has allowed us to gain invaluable insight into the bottle’s historical context and its possible significance.”
The bottle has since become a point of fascination for both historians and archaeologists. While its purpose remains a mystery, the discovery offers a glimpse into the folk practices of the past, as well as the beliefs and superstitions that were prevalent in the 18th and 19th centuries. Whether the bottle was intended to ward off evil spirits, ensure a safe journey, or serve some other purpose remains unclear, but it provides an intriguing window into the lives of people long ago.
This discovery also raises questions about other similar objects that may still be buried underground, waiting to be uncovered. It highlights the importance of archaeological work and the potential for more hidden artifacts to be discovered as construction projects continue across the region.
The mystery of who placed the bottle there and why remains unsolved. Was it a local resident with a belief in the protective power of folk magic, or a sailor seeking protection from the perils of the sea? The answers may never be fully known, but the discovery of the 200-year-old bottle of urine has certainly added an element of intrigue to the history of Cleethorpes.
