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
archaeology lab
‘Now With No Morphine!’: A Look at Patent Medicine Bottles Donated to Ferry Farm
Recently, George Washington’s Ferry Farm received a generous donation of bottles from the Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library. For the most part they date from the late 19th to early 20th century and therefore have no connection to the Washingtons. However, our Archaeology Department can certainly use them for a type collection. A type … Continue reading ‘Now With No Morphine!’: A Look at Patent Medicine Bottles Donated to 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.
What Is This Artifact?
With building work on the reconstructed Washington family home at George Washington's Ferry Farm nearly finished, our archaeologists are in the midst of identifying Washington-owned plates, bowls, glasses, and other household artifacts to be used to furnish the house once construction is finally complete. While working to identify things, archaeologists sometimes encounter a "mystery artifact" … Continue reading What Is This Artifact?
How Many Curlers did a Harried Hairdresser Need? Let’s Do the Math!
After unearthing over 200 wig hair curlers from Washington’s Boyhood Home, we were in a position to do something that - to our knowledge - has never been done before: crossmend all those curler fragments. As a result, we can now predict the minimum number of curlers the Washington family’s harried hairdressers needed. If you … Continue reading How Many Curlers did a Harried Hairdresser Need? Let’s Do the Math!
Photos: Grandparent-Grandchild Archaeology Day Camp
During spring break last week, George Washington's Ferry Farm hosted to Grandparent-Grandchild Archaeology Camp. Campers, young and old, got a crash course on the entire archaeology process at Ferry Farm and the importance of archaeology to history. From recording information and digging up artifacts to a behind-the-scenes lab tour and creating an artifact diorama, campers … Continue reading Photos: Grandparent-Grandchild Archaeology Day Camp
“I wonder if this was mine?”: Robert Bailey’s Ferry Farm
We have a unique situation here at the Ferry Farm Archaeology Lab. One of our volunteers, who has spent hundreds of hours washing, sorting and labeling excavated artifacts, is oddly enough, also partially responsible for creating some of those artifacts in the first place! Robert Bailey, his father Ray, mother Peggy and older brother Ray … Continue reading “I wonder if this was mine?”: Robert Bailey’s Ferry Farm
Inside the Archaeology Lab: Putting Artifacts on Exhibit
Here on Lives & Legacies we’ve shown you a variety of important tasks that take place inside the Archaeology Lab at George Washington’s Ferry Farm. You’ve seen how we wash, catalog, label, and then mend vessels with archival glue. One goal of all this work is to piece together whole artifacts from the many broken … Continue reading Inside the Archaeology Lab: Putting Artifacts on Exhibit
Video: Inside the Archaeology Lab – Mending with Archival Glue
In this video, we discuss the importance of using archival glue to mend artifacts and demonstrate the process used to make this special glue. For information about the safe use of these chemicals, visit http://www.collectioncare.org/MSDS/b72MSDS.pdf
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