Centuries-old ring — with practical purpose — found in rubble of Michigan home. See it
A “nice find” dug up during an annual excavation in Michigan turned out to have a practical purpose centuries ago.
The brass trading ring — also referred to as a “Jesuit” ring — was found in the rubble of a row house at Colonial Michilimackinac, park officials said in a June 18 Facebook post.
“Jesuit rings” had both religious and trade uses, according to the National Park Service. They’ve been found throughout the Great Lakes region, NPS said, but the rings were also discovered in western Missouri.
The brass trading ring was dug up during an annual archeological dig. Every summer since 1959, Mackinac Island State Park has worked with Michigan State University to dig up the park’s treasures.
“Excavation moved outside the walls in the early 1970s, when three rowhouses from the suburbs of the fort were discovered prior to building the Visitor’s Center under the Mackinac Bridge,” according to the Mackinac Parks website.
Excavation on the Southeast Rowhouse — where the ring was found in the rubble of the front porch — started in 2007, according to the website.
The house was built in the 1730s and was owned by two traders in its lifetime before it was demolished in 1781, according to the parks website.
Archaeologists will continue to excavate through Aug. 17, officials said.
This story was originally published June 20, 2024 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Centuries-old ring — with practical purpose — found in rubble of Michigan home. See it."
