I too, would think an archaeological excavation of the new garden bed would
be a great project. I don't know what was there before Strawberry Banke was
established and/or how disturbed the soil strata may be. If it had been a
plowed field, some artifacts may come up but for a garden, you wouldn't be needing
to disturb the soils below the plow zone.
But the archaeologists at Strawberry Banke would be familiar with the land
use there and could decide if some testing should be done. Soil core samples
and/or a few judgement test pits would be enough to determine if an
archaeological excavation would be viable. Most likely, any artifacts that appear will
be from previously disturbed soils, etc.
Creating a flowerbed right outside a historic house (I've done this at 2
Victorian homes I've rented) is always interesting. The artifacts from these
middens can tell us a lot about the occupants - what they ate, from the dishes
they used, etc. One midden, I chose to not disturb but were eroded out. I
rarely find anything intact and hadn't come across any coins (yet). But whatever I
may find, I usually incorporate into the garden.
Where I live now - the soil around the house had already been
much-disturbed...but I did find a metal toy pistol from the 1950's. I could still read the
name on it and looked it up on the internet and it is very collectible - had
it been in good condition, it would have been worth a few hundred.
Glad that you mentioned this John - I think even if the soil is
disturbed...the children could learn something from a little arch. excavation. If this
had been an original historic garden, seeds can sometimes be found in soil
samples.
Pam
In a message dated 1/25/2007 11:20:33 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
When I was also at Fort Vancouver, walking in the garden, you could find
pieces of
pipe stems, victorian blueware/spode, glass, etc. I was also digging one of
my gardens
earlier, and used a roto-tiller, and saw something silver pop up and go
under as the
blades turned. It turned out to be an old "V" nickle (of course one of the
blades
to the equipment made a nice cut in the piece). But, showing archelogical
soil
layers could be tied into "what's in or under your garden."
You may also have children make their own garden with gluing flowers, seeds,
leaves, etc. to paper. See
http://www.history.org/history/teaching/medicine.cfm
John Martinson
Boise, ID
http://geocities.com/jpmart1
Pamela Silvestri, Volunteer Assistant Museum Director
Northeast States Civilian Conservation Corps Museum
Shenipsit State Forest Headquarters
166 Chestnut Hill Road
Stafford Springs, Connecticut 06076
Telephone: (860) 684-3430
e-mail: [log in to unmask] or
[log in to unmask]
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