Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Waster Pit

Historic Yorktown

— Colonial National Historical Park —

The Waster Pit Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, April 11, 2026

1. The Waster Pit Marker

Inscription. In 1966, archaeologists discovered a large circular pit filled with discarded pottery from William Rogers's kiln. Wood-fired kilns often produced warped and damaged pots with up to 50 percent of the kiln's contents not suitable for sale. Perfect wares were considered "firsts." Wares that had minor flaws were called "seconds," "thirds," or sometimes even "fourths." Totally unusable wares were called "wasters." Fired wasters could not be recycled and were thrown away.

Archaeological evidence suggests William Rogers put some of his wasters to good use. In 1734, Rogers was appointed Surveyor of the Landings, Streets, and Causeways in Yorktown and apparently made the best of his position, repairing the colonial streets with his discarded wares.

Do other intact wasters exist? Undoubtedly, yes. Future excavations may discover previously undocumented vessel forms, adding to the complex picture of William Rogers's extraordinary production.

Photo Caption:
The discovery of a large pit containing thousands of fragments reflects the diversity of William Rogers's products. The wasters, many of which were nearly complete, provide the best evidence of overall production.

Erected by National

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Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1966.

Location. 37° 14.008′ N, 76° 30.513′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. It is on Read Street 0.1 miles south of Main Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on the front porch of the Poor Potter Archaeological Site Enclosure. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 221 Read Street, Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula,

in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the

William Rogers' Pottery Enclosure image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, April 11, 2026

2. William Rogers' Pottery Enclosure

This National Park Service shed houses an excavated kiln from the pottery factory. The marker is at the far corner of the front porch.

Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Work Shop and Laborers (a few steps from this marker); The Large Kiln (a few steps from this marker); Revealing the Past (a few steps from this marker); The Poor Potter of Yorktown (a few steps from this marker); The Poor Potter of Yorktown (Cont.) (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Poor Potter of Yorktown (a few steps from this marker); Ballard House, circa 1709 (within shouting distance of this marker); Smith House, circa 1750 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 18, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.