How did a French coin weight from the late 1700s come to be deposited at a late 19th- early 20th-century archeological site in Smith County? One side of the coin weight depicts the coin it represents, a French Louis D'or from 1785 to 1792. The reverse of the coin weight depicts a hand of Antwerp, indicating it was used in Antwerp, Belgium, markets. Understanding how and when artifacts came to be deposited at a site and what an artifact's association is with other artifacts at a site are questions archeologists ask in order learn how people are interacting with their landscapes. In the case of this small French coin weight, the answer is still being sought.

Date: 1785-1792