After a delay of five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, archaeological excavations in the Washington house work yard at George Washington’s Ferry Farm got underway in mid-August and finished on October 30. Despite the cancellation of a planned spring field school with archaeological students from the University of South Florida, a crew of four … Continue reading We Really Dig History!: 2020 Excavation at Ferry Farm
archaeologist
How to Do Archaeology During a Pandemic
Like so many of you, in the middle of March this year, nearly all employees of George Washington’s Ferry Farm & Historic Kenmore began working from home and did not return to our offices for two and a half months. We expected a lengthy time away and, as such, prepared as best we could for … Continue reading How to Do Archaeology During a Pandemic
We Really Dig History!: Summer 2019’s Excavation at Ferry Farm
From late May through early August of 2019, archaeologists at George Washington's Ferry Farm were busy working in the field again, excavating a block of 18 5’x5’ units located on the east side of the Washington house. It’s not obvious today, but the area directly to the south and west of our 2019 block had … Continue reading We Really Dig History!: Summer 2019’s Excavation at Ferry Farm
Digging Ferry Farm – Laying in the Grid [Video]
Before digging, archaeologists must survey the land and place a grid on their dig site so they can locate artifact discoveries on the landscape and make maps and other records. In this video, Archaeologist Joseph Blondino of Dovetail Cultural Resource Group explains how this survey is done, shows us the tools used, and then lays the … Continue reading Digging Ferry Farm – Laying in the Grid [Video]
Archaeologists Dig History! [Photos]
This summer out on the dig site, one of our archaeology interns sometimes wore a t-shirt that read "archaeologist (n): one who digs history." In this album, you'll see this year's excavation crew -- field director Steve Lenik, assistant field director Elyse Adams, interns Reagan Andersen, Cheyenne Johnson, and Aileen Kelly, and field school students … Continue reading Archaeologists Dig History! [Photos]
We Really Dig History!: This Summer’s Excavations at Ferry Farm
Archaeological excavations at George Washington’s Ferry Farm have occurred nearly every summer since The George Washington Foundation purchased the property in 1996. The summer of 2017, when the majority of the replica Washington house construction was underway, was the major exception. The archaeological site was proved too close to ongoing construction so excavations were put … Continue reading We Really Dig History!: This Summer’s Excavations at Ferry Farm
Archaeology Camp at Ferry Farm 2018 [Photos]
Last week, George Washington’s Ferry Farm hosted Archaeology Camp for ages 9-12. From digging, washing, and mending “artifacts” that they “excavated” in educational mock digs at Ferry Farm, campers learned about the entire archaeology process and the importance of archaeology to history. They also visited the archaeology laboratory for a behind-the-scenes tour and learned about … Continue reading Archaeology Camp at Ferry Farm 2018 [Photos]
Video: Inside the Archaeology Lab – Why Does That Glass Look Funny?
Mara Kaktins, archaeology lab supervisor at George Washington's Ferry Farm, explains the weird patination on some glass artifacts excavated by our archaeologists. For other "Inside the Archaeology Lab" videos, visit the Archaeology at George Washington's Ferry Farm playlist our YouTube channel.
Photos: “Antiques” Hunt!
Several weeks ago, staff from George Washington's Ferry Farm went hunting for objects to go into the reconstructed Washington house, which will be fully furnished with reproduction pieces to allow our visitors to sit on the chairs, open drawers, and pick up the plates on the table. Finding accurate, well-made reproductions of pieces from the … Continue reading Photos: “Antiques” Hunt!
Finding Clues in Curtain Rings
What do you think curtains look like after hundreds of years in Virginia’s soils? Naturally, the cloth portions of such tasteful textiles quickly erode away. But archaeologists do occasionally discover curtain rings. It’s likely that brass rings such as these became separated from their stylish drapery due to cloth tearing or – occasionally - because … Continue reading Finding Clues in Curtain Rings
Lives & Legacies 