Archaeology Open House this Sunday!!

This Sunday I will be hosting a Public Archaeology Day to celebrate the conclusion of my first field season!  October is Pennsylvania Archaeology Month, so what better time to share my work with the public?  Please come out and join me as I display some of my artifacts and discuss my findings and plans for next year. There will also be fun and interactive activities for the kids so they can learn all about Archaeology and what Archaeologists do!

Sunday October 21st

12-3pm @ Graeme Park

Hope to see you there!

This week's wrap-up: Following the wall

I dedicated Monday to cleaning up the bottom level of the wall feature and drawing and photographing the unit.  The first level of the wall, which was first unearthed back in May, was comprised of stones that ranged in size.  Some stones were even still attached by mortar.

Once I was able to get below the stones, the second level contained large chunks of mortar and mortar dust.  Once I finished excavating that level, I hit the natural level.  The bottom of the wall is approximately 1.75' from ground level and 2.5' wide.  In the picture below, you can see that I kept some of the stones in the unit wall.  On the left side (the southern wall closest to the house), the stones that remain are securely set in the unit wall.  The stones on the right side (northern wall) are stacked on top of one another and are attached by solid mortar.  They seem to extend into the newly opened Unit 5.

Here are some photos of my friend Michelle and I working on Level 1 in the new unit:

We finished Level 1 and numerous stones are starting to emerge that seem to line up with the stone wall from the other unit.  We found all of the usual artifacts--nails, ceramics, and glass.  At the end of the day, Michelle found a button in the screen.

While it does not date the Graeme period, it was still an interesting find.  This is the fifth or sixth button I have found since beginning in May.  

Stay tuned for further updates!

Featured Artifact: Glazed Brick

If you are a complete history geek like me, you may find this featured artifact quite interesting.  Bricks became a common construction material during the Graeme period.  While the archaeology shows that the garden walls were primarily stone and mortar, it is possible that glazed bricks were used as a decorative component.  The walkways in the garden were made of brick, and because three types of brick have been collected from both the 1985 excavation and my current excavation (orange brick, red brick and glazed brick), it may also be that the walkways had patterns that utilized these three brick types.

Since May, I have collected various colors of this glazed brick.  Although I have found little information about this building material, I was able to find this passage from Hugh Morrison's Early American Architecture:

"But the first great building material of Georgian architecture was brick.  Brick manufacture has become common almost everywhere, the quality of hard-burned face brick had improved, and from the kilns came a great variety of colors and glazes, ranging from warm roses and salmon pinks through darker reds to purples and blue-blacks.  The latter were bricks from the arched vault of the kiln itself, where being laid radially the inner ends were burned in successive firings to a glass-like surface and deep color; when a new kiln was built, these were saved and used to enliven surfaces with patterns of glazed headers."

Below are some photos that show the breadth of colors that are at this site:

Dark gray, almost black; silver-gray

Red; mottled reddish-brown

Gray

Silver with white specks; reddish-brown; brown

Because the the Penrose family dismantled the garden walls and re-purposed the materials from the garden and other outbuildings, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly how these bricks were used in the garden.  The larger piece in the third photo was found against the garden wall in Unit 1.  Many of the other pieces were found in densely-packed levels of brick that could be part of the original walkways.  When combining the data from both garden excavations, it is safe to assume that glazed brick did play a prominent role in the construction and aesthetics of Elizabeth's formal garden--to what degree is yet to be seen.

My extensive searches for the use of glazed brick in historic sites has yielded little information.  Please feel free to contact me with any other information or resources you may have.  It would be greatly appreciated!

This week's wrap-up: Crazy Critters and Amazing Artifacts

Graeme Park always seems to keep me on my toes.  From the colorful volunteers and visitors to the always-changing landscape, this site possesses the unique ability to to keep me interested, invested and emotionally tied to it.  I have witnessed and experienced many things since beginning my work here some 2+ years ago, but this week has been one of the most entertaining and fulfilling.

As many of you may know, Graeme Park is a Wildlife Refuge.  We have snapping turtles, geese, ducks, blue herons, deer, snakes, feral cats (that are incredibly spoiled thanks to the kind hearts of our volunteers), and numerous other types of wildlife.  

Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure of having what I called a "yellow-jacket on steroids" (which turned out to be a White-Faced Hornet) dive-bomb into my artifact screen, it's legged wrapped around an equally as massive Cicada.  It began devouring the Cicada until it picked it back up and dragged it into a hole in the ground.  That was a lovely way to end the day.

If you have ever visited the park, you know that it has hearty population of Canada geese.  Even if they MIA, they leave traces all over the property.  When I drove in today, I was greeted by what seemed like hundreds of geese.  They were sprawled all over the pond and the surrounding grass, relentlessly fighting, honking and splashing.  I hope they relocate very soon.

About five minutes later, I was taking the tarp off of Unit 1 and I was surprised to find a toad inside the unit.  i guess I scared him as much as he scared me because he jumped straight up into the air and landed back down by the western wall.  I told him that he could hang out for a bit--I had to go inside and write a blog post.

Finally, as I was leaving the visitor's center, I was lucky enough to capture one of our resident butterflies snacking on what other than the butterfly bush.

I suppose I should return to the purpose of this blog--my garden excavation--but I just wanted to share some of my experiences while digging at the park.  I highly encourage those of you who haven't spent time here to walk through the nature trail and hopefully you will have some interesting experiences as well.

Now, onto the archaeology.  These past 2 weeks have been more productive than in previous weeks.  The weather has been (slightly) more on my side and with the help of a dear friend, I was able to finish Unit 4 which contained typical yard scatter (ceramics, glass, nails) and a few pieces of the beautiful tin-glazed tile that I wrote about in a previous entry.  No features or diagnostic artifacts to speak of (in this instance, by diagnostic I mean a type of artifacts that can be definitely attributed to the Graeme period).  Once this unit finally dries up, I can take proper closing photos and fill it back in.  Unit 3, directly to the south of Unit 4, contains a circular stone feature.  I keep draining it in hopes that it will dry out so I can finish excavation, but the rain has prevented me from doing so.  

I returned to Unit 1, the unit where the garden wall was found, in an effort to excavate the remaining wall before the end of the season.  I was able to completely remove the stones from the wall; below the stone level was a thick level of large chunks of mortar and decomposed mortar dust mixed into the soil.  

Upon removing this mortar level, a 3inch piece of kaolin clay pipe stem emerged from the east side of the wall trench.  

The artifact density within the feature is low, which makes sense considering the wall was originally a solid stone and mortar structure.  The objects I am finding are concentrated around the wall, not within the wall itself.  During the 18th century, gardens were kept tidy by sweeping the debris from the walkways to the garden walls.  As a result, pieces of ceramic, glass, and miscellaneous other objects collected around the bases of garden walls.  These artifacts can be very telling about the lifestyle of the Graeme family as well as particular activities that took place within the garden itself.

While the first few levels in the unit seem to date to Penrose occupation of the house (19th century), level 5 contains artifacts that are more indicative of the Graeme period.  The artifacts are scarce, which is not unusual considering that the garden was properly maintained in the first half its life, while it fell into disrepair the second half as Elizabeth struggled financially.  Along with brick fragments and pieces of utilitarian redware, these few sherds of various ceramics were collected:

From right to left: creamware rim sherd with molded decoration; embossed blue feather or shell edgeware; pearlware with underglaze hand-painted design; cobalt blue handpainted ware (pattern may be two legs with stockings)

I also found a pipe bowl:

It is interesting that pipes seem to be a reoccurring artifact.  When the garden was partially excavated in 1985, the archaeologists also found pieces of clay pipes.  While I am trying to "find" Elizabeth through the material culture of her garden, this type of artifact that is closely associated with men keeps emerging.  That in itself is important however; women of good standing, like Elizabeth, would not have engaged in such activities.  Smoking was a male activity.  She cannot be tied to these objects.  Nevertheless, Dr. Graeme was of course a prominent figure at the house, as well as Elizabeth's husband, Henry Hugh Fergusson, who resided at Graeme Park for approximately two years.  Additionally, Elizabeth frequently entertained at her Horsham estate; she was a well-respected and beloved member of Philadelphia high society.  Her visitors included Dr. Benjamin Rush, Ben Franklin and his son William just to name a few.  It would have been common practice for Elizabeth and her guests to take strolls and engage in lively discussions within formal garden.  These objects may not be directly associated with her, but they do add to our understanding of how the garden was utilized and what types of visitors Elizabeth entertained during her time in Horsham.

Some good news and some bad news...

The good news is that the Celtic Festival was a success!  Thank you to everyone who participated--from the vendors to the performers, to the guests and especially the volunteers.  You all worked so hard to create such a wonderful event!  I would also like to thank those from the Temple community who came out to support me and the event (and of course enjoy some ice cream, beer and bagpiping).

I enjoyed sharing my project and my finds with the visitors.  So many people genuintely seemed interested in the archaeology of the site.  One of my many goals is to make people aware of GP's complex and rich history and as a result, gain a greater respect for the cultural value of all sites. 

                                                                          Photos courtesy of Elizabeth McGinsky

Unfortunately, my respect for the site is not contagious.  While all of us at GP are vigilant protectors of this park, which is very near and dear to us, there are certain things that are just out of our control.  As a result of some conversations and experiences that I had this week, I felt the need to tackle the whole metal detecting/digging issue.  Let me say this first of all: It is not a hobby.  It is not a way to make a quick fortune.  It is not ethical.  IT IS NOT LEGAL.  Use all of the euphamisms you want (treasure hunting, investigating, researching, and my personal favorite, "saving" the artifacts), you are LOOTING.  You are destroying the history of a site without any proper procedures.  Archaeology is destructive by nature.  But that is why you go to field schools, you have internships, you earn degrees--you become educated about to accurately document and handle what you are excavating.  By digging things up without the appropriate knowledge, you are destroying the historical context of a site.  Without knowing where you found an artifact (horizontally, vertically, and its association with other possible objects), its meaning is lost and it is not something you can ever get back.  Part of what archaeologists and historians do is share their research with the rest of the world.  It is our cultural heritage--we are all linked, we all share the past, and we all deserve to have equal access to it.

These few points may deter some people from metal detecting and looting.  I know that many, if not most, people are driven by $$$$--the possibility that you could find a Civil War button or a rare coin from the 1700s worth thousands of dollars.  For those people, the historical significance is insignificant.  I could talk to these people until I was blue in the face about ethics, integrity, etc., but at the end of the day the bottom line is money and bragging rights.  It reminds me of trophy hunters who display the heads of the animals that they kill.  Especially after coming into contact with some of these "treasure seekers" at GP, it is clear that their ego is all wrapped up in this "hobby" and they just love to talk about all of the valuable things that they found over the years.  And funny enough, in their deluded logic, they think that telling me all of this stuff will somehow impress me.  You know what impresses me?  Professionalism and respect. 

Now onto the laws.  Federal laws protecting natural and cultural resources date back all the way to the early 1900s.  Here is a rundown of the laws relevant to this issue:

American Antiquities Act of 1906

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any person who shall appropriate, excavate, injure, or destroy any historic or prehistoric ruin or monument, or any object of antiquity, situated on lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States, without the permission of the Secretary of the Department of the Government having jurisdiction over the lands on which said antiquities are situated, shall, upon conviction, be fined in a sum of not more than five hundred dollars or be imprisoned for a period of not more than ninety days, or shall suffer both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 This act supplements the provisions of the Antiquities Act of 1906. The law makes it illegal to destroy, excavate or remove information from Federal or Indian lands any archeological resources without a permit from the land manager. Permits may be issued only to educational or scientific institutions and only if the resulting activities will increase knowledge about archeological resources. Regulations for the ultimate disposition of materials recovered as a result of permitted activities state that archeological resources excavated on public lands remain the property of the United States. Archeological resources excavated from Indian lands remain the property of the Indian or Indian tribe having rights of ownership over such resources.

The Archaeological Resources Protection Act Of 1979

The term "archaeological resource" means any material remains of past human life or activities which are of archaeological interest, as determined under uniform regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter. Such regulations containing such determination shall include, but not be limited to: pottery, basketry, bottles, weapons, weapon projectiles, tools, structures or portions of structures, pit houses, rock paintings, rock carvings, intaglios, graves, human skeletal materials, or any portion or piece of any of the foregoing items. Nonfossilized and fossilized paleontological specimens, or any portion or piece thereof, shall not be considered archaeological resources, under the regulations under this paragraph, unless found in archaeological context. No item shall be treated as an archaeological resource under regulations under this paragraph unless such item is at least 100 years of age.

No person may excavate, remove, damage, or otherwise alter or deface, or attempt to excavate, remove, damage, or otherwise alter or deface any archaeological resource located on public lands or Indian lands unless such activity is pursuant to a permit issued under section 470cc of this title, a permit referred to in section 470cc(h)(2) of this title, or the exemption contained in section 470cc(g)(1) of this title.

So there you have it.  Graeme Park is owned by the state of Pennsylvania.  It is designated public land.  It is a National Historic Landmark.  IT IS ILLEGAL FOR YOU TO DIG HERE.  You will face jail and/or fines.  As Americans, we just love our private property laws.  While I am not condoning just digging holes for the fun of it, if you feel the need to "treasure hunt," conduct it on your own property or get the permission of a friend or family member.  Please do not visit a site such as Graeme Park.  I know that the actions of some disreputable "enthusiasts" ruin it for others who abide by the laws.  In fact, some professional metal detecting groups work WITH archaeologists.  I am not targeting these people.  I am targeting those that disregard the law.

One final note.  As I was searching for more information on these laws, I came across a metal detecting website and forum.  The website administrator had this little jewel to share:

Archaeologists: The Supreme Diggers

For years, Archaeologists across the country, as well as state bureaucracies, have manipulated the American Antiquities Act of 1906, ARPA, the National Historic Preservation Act, and many State laws. The Archaeology communities have bended, stretched, and remolded the above Federal laws to aide their agenda.

What is their agenda?

Their agenda is to control every item of history. This includes every relic, artifact, coin, bottle, pottery and Indian arrowheads, etc, that lay beneath the grounds surface.

(http://www.metal-detecting-ghost-towns-of-the-east.com/metaldetectinglaws.html)

Well I know I won't stop until I have every single artifact ever discovered in my secret underground artifact arsenal at an undisclosed location.  But in all seriousness, I know that this is how some people feel.  And I will agree that some professionals do have agendas and want to exercise control--you find people like that in all walks of life.  I cannot speak to other departments, but my department at Temple University prides itself on our commitment to Public History and Archaeology.  We are dedicated to making our work accessible to non-archaeologists whenever possible.  My table at Celtic Fest was the first of many attempts to engage the public with my work and allow them access to my findings.  Despite what this individual thinks, we are a community that wants to present the past in a responsible way.  If you want to call that hoarding, then fine.  But  I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with archaeologists and historians who make it a priority to share the knowledge and experiences with others.  I will continue to protect this site and make my work accessible to anyone who wants to learn. 



It's festival time!

Tomorrow is Graeme Park's 16th annual Celtic Festival.  The festival began as a way to celebrate the heritage of the Keith and Graeme families.  Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the volunteers, over the years it has expanded into well-known event that brings locals and non-locals together for a day of good food, entertainment and history.  This year the festival has grown because, for the first time ever, beer will be served and I will have my own booth to discuss my current excavation!  For those of you interested in beer and/or history, these are exciting additions to already amazing Celtic Festival.  For more information, visit
http://www.graemepark.org/Celtic.htm or http://graemepark.blogspot.com/2012/06/revised-celtic-schedule.html

I hope to see you there!

Featured artifact: The Graeme's Tin-Glazed Tiles

The most exciting find of the excavation so far revealed itself yesterday morning.  While I was digging, a small piece of tin-glazed ceramic popped out of the soil.  As I examined it, it struck me as very familiar for two reasons: (1) I had found similar pieces of it in a previous unit and (2) it has a small portion of the hand-painted design on it that looked like the tiles from the two upstairs bedrooms in the Keith House.  As the day progressed, I found about 10 more pieces of the same ceramic type, some plain and others decorated.  When I came home later that day, I looked at the picture I took of the reproduction tiles that currently adorn the two bedroom fireplaces.

The  colors were similar as well as the patterns and design (from what I could discern from the sherds).  This morning, I revisited the Keith house and looked at the three original tiles that are displayed in Dr. Keith's bedroom.  Much to my excitement, the artifacts were an exact match to the original tiles!  By the end of the day, I had found about 6 or 7 more pieces for a total of 18 sherds.  Additionally, the last piece I found fit with one of the larger pieces I found yesterday.

The sherds were found in what I believe is Penrose period trash.  It was found with other types of ceramics, glass, animal bones and nails that date later than Elizabeth's time at the house.  It seems as though the tile(s) was broken and discarded with other trash.  The tile date to the Graeme period, however.  It is quite amazing to discover artifacts that not only can be definitively dated to EGF's era, but that were once displayed in her and her father's bedrooms.  

For more information on tin-glaze earthenware, visit:

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/portroyal/tinglaze/index.htm

http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ceramics/pages/category.asp?cat_name=Tin%20glazed%20wares&cat_id=710

Stay tuned for more updates!