17th Century Archaeological Dig at Pemaquid An archaeological dig of what is thought to be a 17th century structure previously undiscovered at one of Maine’s most historic sites will get under way next week at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site at New Harbor. The weeklong excavation, sponsored by the Friends of Colonial Pemaquid and led by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, will be open for viewing to the public, according to Tom Desjardin, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands historian. A test dig already has revealed more than 300 artifacts at the structure site, everything from pieces of pottery and china to nails to a corner wall, Desjardin said. Next week’s dig will be led by state historic archaeologist Leon Cranmer of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, the park historian said. An archaeological team plus volunteers will be working at the site. Once the home of American Indians dating back at least 7,000 years, Colonial Pemaquid also was the site of a 17th-century English fishing station and village and later a British military post and a 19th century New England farm. As a state historic site managed by the BPL, Colonial Pemaquid consists of reconstructed Fort William Henry, representing one of two 17th century forts located at the site; the federal style Fort House; the foundations of the fishing village; a burial ground; and a museum containing extensive artifacts from the site. The structure to be excavated next week was discovered last year in the village area along the shoreline of Colonial Pemaquid, Desjardin said. The area previously was set farther back from the water’s edge, which has moved at least 50 feet closer in the last 100 years due to erosion, he noted. Numerous artifacts already have been found at the test dig, including nails that seem to “suggest there had been clapboards and walls” by their number, size and distribution, the park historian said. Desjardin said he thought the structure most likely was a dwelling dating back to the late 1600s, possibly 1689. Also found at the site was a metal brass pipe tamper, used to tamp tobacco in the bowl of a clay pipe, Desjardin said. In addition, “a corner of a feature,” believed to be a man-made stone wall indicating a foundation, has been uncovered, he said. Cranmer and Desjardin will be excavating for five days. The public can view the dig, located in the village area of the historic site near the museum.
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2010 (Archive on Friday, September 03, 2010) Posted by Jym St. Pierre   Contributed by
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