Ground Breaking Archaeology: Learning about 34 Chestnut Street from the Ground Up

Archaeology studies the way that people lived through both environmental data and the unveiling of material culture. In an effort to learn more about the way the Phillips family lived and worked at 34 Chestnut Street, Historic New England is performing a multi-year study of the landscape of the property. Using a variety of sources, a team of landscape architects crafted a cultural landscape report that revealed that the yard of a century ago is quite different than the yard of today.

During the summer of 2010, Peter Sablock, a professor in the geological sciences department at Salem State University, brought in a team of students and a technology called ground penetrating radar to unveil an even more complete landscape history at the Phillips House. The findings of his team as well as a demonstration of ground penetrating radar technology and electromagnetic induction will take place at 34 Chestnut Street on Wednesday, October 19, from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

The cost of the program is $5.00 for Historic New England Garden and Landscape members, $10.00 for Historic New England members and Salem State University students and faculty, and $15.00 for nonmembers. This special lecture is part of Massachusetts Archaeology Month and members of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society members may also join us for the $10.00 rate. 

Registration is recommended. To purchase tickets please call 978-744-0440 or visit HistoricNewEngland.org.