De Hirsh Margules, Mother Ann Lighthouse, Eastern Point, Gloucester, 1946. Gouache on paper. Gift of Jean M. Horblit, 2002. [Acc. #2002.004.002]
WCVB: Public invited to view archaeological dig at Massachusetts historic landmark
By David Bienick, October 25, 2024
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Archaeologists are digging for artifacts at a pre-Revolutionary War site in Massachusetts, and the public is invited to view their work.
Excavations around a free-standing outhouse at the Babson-Alling House on Cape Ann Museum Green began Friday. The dig is being conducted by the Fiske Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
The team believes that in addition to being used as an outhouse, the area was also later used as a household dump that may contain generations of bottles, cups or other refuse.
“So we’ll get a good sense of where household goods were coming from in 1910,” said archaeologist Christa Beranek. “Were they getting a lot of things locally? Were they coming from far away?”
Additional digs are scheduled for Saturday and Thursday and will be open to the public. Each dig is being conducted from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m.
“The Museum is undertaking this archaeological exploration to learn more about the history and evolution of the site. Materials found during the dig will also help the Museum as it lays plans for interpretation of these structures that are part of the CAM Green campus,” museum officials said in a statement.
The Babson-Alling House, which overlooks the Grant Circle rotary off Route 128, was built by William Allen in 1740. It came into the ownership of the Babson family in the early 1800s and was acquired by the Cape Ann Museum in 2019.
Findings from the dig will be presented on Nov. 23 at 3:30 p.m.
See the original article on WCVB’s website.
