artifact

Meet the Crew 2025

/ ferryfarmandkenmore

We are heading into the final stretch of this year’s exploration of the 18th-century kitchen at George Washington’s Ferry Farm, and it definitely hasn't disappointed! The finds are getting bigger and better as we continue excavating deeper into the cellar and expand our look into the surrounding area. We have made a ton of progress … Continue reading Meet the Crew 2025

One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s TPQ: Modern Materials in Archaeological Excavations

/ ferryfarmandkenmore

Archaeology is trash. There, I said it. Before you call Mr. Jones and have me thrown in a pit of snakes, let me explain. Generally speaking, archaeology focuses on understanding the past through the items that people left behind, i.e., their trash.  Most of the things we find are left around because they were broken … Continue reading One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s TPQ: Modern Materials in Archaeological Excavations

Archaeology Is Not For The Faint Of Heart – But We Love It Anyway

/ ferryfarmandkenmore

A lot of people have told me that they want or wanted to become archaeologists.  I always find this flattering.  Yours truly was only in my single digits when I declared the same to my family and anyone who would listen.  After reading every National Geographic magazine I could get my hands on, ‘excavating’ abandoned … Continue reading Archaeology Is Not For The Faint Of Heart – But We Love It Anyway

Expanding Ferry Farm:  Preparing For The Long Winter In The Cellar House

/ ferryfarmandkenmore

If you have visited Ferry Farm recently or follow us on social media, you may have noticed the construction of two buildings near the Washington House. These new structures represent those that stood in these spots during George Washington’s time and were constructed using 18th-century methods. Identified through archaeology, their reconstructions allow us to tell … Continue reading Expanding Ferry Farm:  Preparing For The Long Winter In The Cellar House

Cowrie Shells: Cultural and Economic Ties in the 18th-Century Atlantic World 

/ ferryfarmandkenmore

Figure 1: Ferry Farm cowries Many readers will undoubtedly recognize these two artifacts (Fig. 1). Known as cowrie shells, these artifacts have become synonymous with slavery and serve as identifiers for the presence of free and enslaved Black individuals in the Americas. Still, the role of cowries in the 18th century goes far beyond that … Continue reading Cowrie Shells: Cultural and Economic Ties in the 18th-Century Atlantic World 

Stop Collaborate and Listen TD is Back with a Brand New Edition

/ ferryfarmandkenmore

A quick refresher from part one of the TD marked pipe saga - Clay tobacco pipes with the mark TD are a ubiquitous item at historical archaeology sites dating from the mid-18th through the 20th century. While at one point the mark represented a specific maker, it later became a mark synonymous with clay tobacco … Continue reading Stop Collaborate and Listen TD is Back with a Brand New Edition

You Down with Old TD? Yeah, You Know Me!  

/ ferryfarmandkenmore

 TD Marked Tobacco Pipes That Is!  Clay tobacco pipes are a hallmark of historical archaeology. Grandma smoked, the enslaved smoked, the elite smoked, children smoked, just about everyone smoked. Smoking was one of America’s favorite pastimes, and there are plenty of pipes left in the archaeological record to prove it. Tobacco pipes were not only … Continue reading You Down with Old TD? Yeah, You Know Me!