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Students and archaeologists last summer begin a dig at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, which reaped enough old artifacts to warrant further investigations. They want volunteers for this summer.
Dig it this summer:Historic and prehistoric finds at Rebecca Nurse lead to more interest
By Bonnie Hurd Smith/Special to the Danvers Herald
Thu Mar 15, 2007, 01:49 PM EDT
Last summer’s archaeological survey of the Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers revealed these objects and the fact that there are many more still buried in the ground as yet to be discovered.
This summer, the Nurse Homestead will host a full-fledged archaeological dig that promises to unearth many more fragments and artifacts tied to Rebecca Nurse, a victim of the Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692, her family, and Native Americans who apparently lived on the site ca. 1000.
The dig will take place through the Archaeological Field School, which is a summer program of the Phillips Andover Academy managed under the auspices of the renowned Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology in North Andover.
The Field School will be overseen by the eminent archaeologist and historian Dr. Nathan Hamilton, who is on the faculty of the University of Southern Maine. Hamilton considers the Nurse Homestead site a "gold mine" of archaeological finds.
"It's a rich site for 17th-century artifacts," Dr. Hamilton says. "There is a high integrity of many time periods."
The Archaeological Field School Partners describe Dr. Hamilton’s involvement as “historic,” “exciting,” and “visionary.” According to Malinda S. Blustain, director of the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology, “Last summer’s archaeological testing yielded so much evidence dating even to prehistoric times I knew we needed someone with stellar credentials in the field to lead the dig. I told Nate we were looking for someone, and he said HE would do it! His personal involvement speaks volumes about the importance of this dig.”
Any high-schooler can apply to be part of the Field School, which will take place from June 26-Aug. 1, by contacting Malinda Blustain, director, R.S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology, 978-749-4490. Financial aid is available.
Malinda Blustain, director, Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Phillips Academy, Andover campus; and Archaeological Field School Partner, 978-749-4490
Paul Murphy, director, Summer Session, Phillips Academy, Andover; and Archaeological Field School Partner, 978-749-4400
Glenn Mairo, Danvers Alarm List Company, which manages the Rebecca Nurse Homestead; and Archaeological Field School Partner, 978-580-9437 (cell)
