Archaeological Dig in New Hampshire

New Hampshire may not be the archaeological jewel like Egypt, but it certainly has an appetite for local archeological treasures. Digs are ongoing in New Hampshire now and there are more planned are in the future.

The most interesting and current local archaeological dig is taking place near the New Hampshire seacoast. It is called the "Oyster River Environs Project." It may actually end up changing local history. The Oyster River is an interior coastline area that has not yet been as built up as other surrounding areas, always a plus in an excavation.

Past local excavations have indicated a vibrant and definite presence of Native Americans along the river. There are still more discoveries be made, these native Indians lived here for thousands of years. The current excavations being conducted revolve around more modern times, from 1700's until the 1800's.

So far, this has turned into an exciting discovery, especially when one considers the original history, which has been available. Most of sources come from literate pilgrims and puritans since they were the recorders of the time. When one thinks of a typical New England town, they think of the town meeting house, church, a town square, and the farms being on the edge of the towns.

The ongoing archaeological excavation has uncovered a completely different account, an account that points in the direction of rewriting the accepted local history. The layout of foundations suggests the Oyster River area was not founded by pilgrims and puritans but by hard working immigrants and God abiding Anglicans. Many of these Anglicans were illiterate and spent the majority of their time on substance survival. They were simply seeking a more substantial and fulfilling way of life.

The puritan and pilgrim portrayal of the Anglican living and working practices were in actuality, quite different. The local excavations to date indicate a population more similar to the Chesapeake Bay region settlers. Chesapeake Bay relied on cash crops such as tobacco and required more expansive farmland instead of a centralized township. It is possible this population relied on timber, salted cod and furs for cash crops.

Last summer, the main archaeological digging concentrated on the Field-Bickman Garrison site by the Oyster River. It turned up an amazing 500 artifacts, many which are being studied in a laboratory this winter. The artifacts range in date from 1750 through 1825 and reveal that there was a tavern on site. This is an interesting homestead as because the owner, Mr. Darby Field, was the very first recorded European to have climbed to the top of Mount Washington, in the celebrated White Mountains of NH. Perhaps more importantly, Mr. Thomas Bickford, another important owner, was the survivor of an Abenaki Indian attack.

The structure still stands erect today. Some of the artifacts collected around the area indicate the building was a tavern. This would be a logical conclusion since it was also a ferry landing. No doubt, the captains were thirsty during a cold bitter winter or humid, hot summer run. There are stonewares, salt glazed and Staffordshire slipware. Jugs, onion glass bottles and an array of pipes have survived the years. The artifacts discovered can attest to the history of the building. Sometimes, as this excavating dig demonstrates, actual tangible pieces of history are more reliable than the written word.

There have also been two tined boned handled forks, they may have been the sort one was expected to carry and use. This was a usual practice since civilized eating utensils were not mass-produced. Fauna of various animals has been excavated such as cows, sheep, and due to the proximity of the ocean, fish.

If you would like to participate in this dig, you can. Volunteers are welcome and there is no mandatory fee attached. You can, if you wish, donate 35 dollars to SCRAP (NH State Conservation and Rescue Archaeology Program) to aid in covering costs. The dig at Oyster River is an excellent way to get your feet wet with local archaeology.