Public Archaeology Laboratory

09/18/2023

This page is no longer being updated.

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08/29/2023

Join the Vernacular Architecture Forum’s New England Chapter on Sunday, September 17 (rain date Sunday, October 1) at 9:45am for a day touring the vernacular cultural landscape of Central Falls, Rhode Island.

The city of Central Falls is located along the Blackstone River on the Rhode Island/Massachusetts border. Its small size belies the number of extant buildings and sites associated with its immigrant communities. Dubbed “the World in One Square Mile,” the city has been home to Irish, French Canadian, Polish, Syrian, Portuguese, Latino, and Cape Verdean populations drawn by the promise of employment at the mills. Join us while we examine the built environment of these cultural communities to understand how they adapted the city, and how it has been continuously readapted over time.

Led by PAL’s Gretchen Pineo, Architectural Historian, and Marta V. Martínez, Executive Director of Rhode Island Latino Arts, the tour will explore where the people in these communities worked, slept, ate, worshipped, and socialized – and still do today.

Registration is required for the tour, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-world-in-one-square-mile-cultural-landscapes-of-central-falls-ri-tickets-696176210787.

08/28/2023

If you haven’t liked and followed our new page, please do so using the link here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094333148725

Starting September 1, 2023, we will no longer be updating this account. That’s only 3 days away, so please like and follow!

08/23/2023

It’s PAL archaeologist Ana Opishinski’s turn to show off her screen building skills. The field crews thank you!

08/18/2023

PAL staff seeking shelter during the tornado warnings this morning! That doesn’t happen often here in Pawtucket. We hope everyone stayed safe.

08/17/2023

A friendly reminder that PAL has a new, updated page! Starting September 1, 2023, we will no longer be updating this account.

Please like and follow our new page at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094333148725

08/11/2023

PAL is hiring! Apply to be part of the team.

08/09/2023

Work in progress! PAL’s study collection has some new additions.

08/08/2023

Open sessions - 2023 CNEHA Annual Meeting ‼️

Several thematic sessions that will take place at the Montreal conference are open, and await your submissions! Over the next few days, we will post each open session with a short summary. To submit a paper proposal for these sessions, simply complete the form available at https://cneha.org/conference.html, and indicate the name of the session you wish to join. We look forward to seeing you this fall!

Today's open session is : 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 💡
Organized by Holly Herbster

Abstract : This session presents analyses of four nineteenth century sites in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including Rhode Island’s first State Prison, two Afro-Native homesites, and a 300-year-old family homestead.

A common thread that ties these sites together is that each documents “hidden” histories that were not recorded accurately or at all. Comparative analyses of the Providence prison artifact assemblage and a watchman’s diary highlight the day-to-day reality of prisoner treatment and provisioning practices. Investigations at the Manton and Church-Collins-Nicholson homesteads, two of the only non-white families in nineteenth century Little Compton, Rhode Island, counter historical narratives about “otherness” in a small community. The David & Abigail Tilden House in Canton, Massachusetts contains an ell where a cache of concealed shoes were discovered.

The presentations highlight ways in which archaeological research has illuminated undocumented and underdocumented people and practices to provide a more complete picture of New England’s diverse historic communities.

08/04/2023

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02478-9

A landmark genomic study raises the possibility that many more people could find links to distant ancestors through genetic analysis.

08/03/2023

PAL Senior Archaeologist and a consultant to the Battle of Rhode Island (BoRIA) Board, Jay Waller, prepared a memorandum on the archaeological potential of the Butts Hill Fort in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The fort is a significant fortification associated with the British occupation of Newport during the American Revolution and served as Major General John Sullivan’s command center during the August 1778 Battle of Rhode Island and a protected National Historic Landmark. The memo summarizes the fort’s history, research potential, and provides historic preservation recommendations as the BoRIA develops a Master Plan for the fort. You can read Waller’s recommendations and learn about Butts Hill Fort at the link https://w3r-us.org/battle-of-rhode-island-association-continues-efforts-towards-restoration-of-butts-hill-fort-by-2028/

Jay Waller, Senior Archaeologist at The Public Archeology Laboratory, Inc., and a consultant to the Battle of Rhode Island (BoRIA) Board, prepared a memorandum providing guidance on which activities might be undertaken at the Fort prior to having an approved Master Plan. The recommendations are cons...