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Chadbourne Archaeology Site 2007 marks the thirteenth season of excavation at the Chadbourne Site (ca. 1643-1690) in South Berwick, Maine. This project of the Old Berwick Historical Society and the Chadbourne Family Association is directed by Emerson W. Baker, Ph.D., Professor of History at Salem State College. Since the site was discovered in 1995 every summer a team of archaeologists and volunteers return to work on the well-preserved remains of this early homestead. |
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logo based on an excavated seal |
| The dig has uncovered invaluable archaeological information about life for the first generation of English settlers in southern Maine. It has also been a successful education program. Every year between 60 and seventy volunteers participate in the dig. In addition, people continue to learn about the project through on-going lectures, and an exhibit at Old Berwick Historical Society's Counting House Museum. | |
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Built sometime after Humphrey Chadbourne Sr. purchased the land from the local Native Americans in 1643, and apparently destroyed in 1690 during King William's War, the site is archaeological "time capsule." It presents a complete and well-preserved record of life in Maine in the late 1600s. The fact that the Chadbournes were one of the wealthiest families in the colony means that they left many objects behind for archaeologists.. |
| To date over 30,000 artifacts have been recovered. These broken bits of the past have no monetary value, but they are truly priceless to archaeologists for they tell us about everyday life in early Maine. Most are every-day sort of items such as hand-forged nails, window glass, bits of stew bones, or stems from clay pipe stems. Buttons, a spur, an ax blade, a hammer head, part of a saw blade, a chisel and other tools all reveal details of daily life for the Chadbournes. | "HL C" engraved spoon for Humphrey and Lucy Chadbourne. |
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Volunteer
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back to Salem State College Home Page |
| To date over 30,000 artifacts have been recovered. These broken bits of the past have no monetary value, but they are truly priceless to archaeologists for they tell us about everyday life in early Maine. Most are every-day sort of items such as hand-forged nails, window glass, bits of stew bones, or stems from clay pipe stems. Buttons, a spur, an ax blade, a hammer head, part of a saw blade, a chisel and other tools all reveal details of daily life for the Chadbournes. | "HL C" engraved spoon for Humphrey and Lucy Chadbourne. |
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| ARCHAEOLOGY |
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| Information on the following
archaeology sites is currently included in Virtual Norumbega. More sites will be added in the future, as time permits. |
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Chadbourne Site, ca. 1643-1690, South Berwick, Maine Lewis Bean Site, ca. 1695-1757, York, Maine Shepard Site, ca. 1679-1770, Kittery, Maine Phips Site, ca. 1639-1676, Woolwich, Maine Hitchcock Site, ca. 1636-1690, Biddeford Pool, Maine |
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Sites that will be added in the future: Point Christian Manor, ca. 1634-1643, York, Maine Hilton Site, ca. 1635-1710, Newfields, New Hampshire Clarke & Lake Company, ca. 1654-1676, Arrowsic, Maine Sagadahoc Island, ca. 1650-1690, Maine |
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