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The Salem Preservationist
Reporting historic preservation developments in the greater Salem area.
"Looking backward and forward to a Greater Salem"
| October 2007, Issue V0502 |
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Why We Dig: Stories from 1692 and Earlier Native American Times in Salem Village By Glenn Mairo, Chair, Massachusetts Archaeological Society-Northeast Chapter As October (officially named by the Massachusetts Historical Commission as Massachusetts Archaeology Month) draws to a close in 2007, I wanted to take a moment to share the results of an exciting archaeological dig that took place in Essex County this summer - one that involved institutional partnerships, high level scholarship, and exciting results. For the past two years, the Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers has hosted an archaeological survey of its grounds to much interest and acclaim. Many readers will know that the Nurse Homestead was the residence of Rebecca Nurse, an elderly grandmother who was hanged as a witch during the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria of 1692. The European occupancy of the then 300-acre site dates back to 1636 when Townsend Bishop was awarded his land grant by Charles I, King of England. The Nurse family moved onto the former Bishop land grant in 1678. However, we have known for quite some time that the history of the Nurse Homestead dates back much farther than the 17th century. Pre-historic artifacts were found when the fields were plowed during much of the early 20th century - some dating back more than 4,000 years. These artifacts have since been identified, and served as a diagnostic tool in determining that a full scale, scientific archaeological survey of the site was important and necessary. The R.S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology at Phillips Academy, Andover, has been involved as a resource partner for the Nurse Homestead since 2000 when the artifacts found by "following the plow" were brought to the attention of Eugene Winter, honorary curator of the museum, who many Essex County residents know from his work on the Paleo era Bull Brook site in Ipswich. 
Pipe fragments (left) and pottery fragment (right) As the chair of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society - Northeast Chapter (MAS-NE), which is affiliated with the R.S. Peabody Museum, and as an active member with the Danvers Alarm List Company, the living history organization that owns and operates the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, I saw the planets align two summers ago when all of our organizations agreed that a dig at the Nurse Homestead would provide a rare opportunity to find both historic and pre-historic artifacts. Malinda Blustain, director of the R.S. Peabody Museum, made a proposal to the Phillips Andover Academy Summer Session that we create a Field School of Archaeology at the Nurse Homestead. Preliminary work commenced on July 19, 2006 (coincidentally, the 314th anniversary of Rebecca Nurse’s execution), utilizing a fine team of professionals and students from the R.S. Peabody Museum, the University of Southern Maine (Dr. Nathan Hamilton), Salem State College (Dr. Peter Sablock), and MAS-NE. State of the art science was used from the beginning, with non-invasive technologies employed such as ground penetrating radar and global positional satellite mapping. Preliminary findings confirmed that we had to continue. During the summer of 2007 the Phillips Academy's Field School officially commenced at the Nurse Homestead. Led by Dr. Nathan Hamilton, participants included students from Phillips Andover's Summer Session, some of Dr. Hamilton's students from the University of Southern Maine, staff members of the R.S. Peabody Museum, members of MAS-NE, and volunteers from the Rebecca Nurse Homestead Preservation Society. 
Test pits at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead site 
Close-up of one pit One powerful benefit of this archaeological work has been the reaction of those who descend from Rebecca Nurse and her husband, Francis. Last year, at a family reunion in New Haven, Connecticut, I displayed publicly for the first time artifacts that spanned over 2,000 years of history at the Homestead - including several items that date from the time of Rebecca's and Francis's occupancy. Seeing those artifacts brought many to tears, as there is virtually nothing tangible left from their lives in Salem Village (today’s Danvers). Sisters Rebecca Nurse, Mary Estey, and Sarah Cloyce were among the children of William and Joanna Towne who arrived in Salem from England around 1635. Nurse and Estey were hanged as witches. Cloyce was accused, imprisoned, and eventually released. Like many historic sites, the Nurse Homestead has no funds available to purchase items that date from "first period" times (1625-1725). But the archaeological field school and survey has given the Nurse Homestead a precious gift by revealing objects that have been lying under the dirt for many years - fragments of personal items that are now seemingly bounding from the ground, eager to tell their story. At the Homestead, we are just beginning to "listen" to these stories and interpret the newly discovered artifacts for our visitors. The news of the discovery of historic and prehistoric artifacts at the Nurse Homestead has caught the attention of local and national media, film companies, and Boston’s Museum of Science which invited us to participate in their first-ever Archaeological Fair where we shared the spotlight with Harvard University, Old Sturbridge Village, Strawberry Banke, and Plimoth Plantation. This fall, the Essex National Heritage Commission recognized the significance of our work by hosting an Explorers Club event at the Homestead. Their program, along our own ENHC Trails and Sails event, attracted record numbers of visitors. In 2008, Dr. Nathan Hamilton and Malinda Blustain will give talks about the dig to professional archaeological societies throughout the country. Looking ahead, we know the dig will continue for several more years. We also plan to expand the scope of the archaeological survey to include nearby potential sites. Naturally, the Homestead will need museum space to accommodate the rapidly growing collection of artifacts - but what a wonderful problem to have. Clearly, archaeology - a science that deals with the past - has become the key to the Homestead's future. 
Fragments from the test pit Glenn Mairo at the dig pit As for the Massachusetts Archaeological Society- Northeast Chapter, we are in the early stages of creating an Essex County Native American Trail to celebrate the rich history and pre-history of Native people for thousands of years. In Spring 2008, we plan to commemorate the life of the Sachem of the Agawam, Masconomet, at his gravesite in Hamilton, upon the 350th anniversary of his passing. I encourage all residents of Essex County to arouse their archaeological curiosity, and learn more about the stories the artifacts we unearth can tell us. In many cases, like at the Nurse Homestead, shards of pottery, fragments of pipes, or pieces of ancient clay pots, might be all we will ever know about those who came before us. To learn more: www.massarchaeology.org www.andover.edu/news/NurseDig07.htm Attached photos:
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