Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · 2d

Join us tonight at at 6:30pm at the Brighton Branch of the BPL to learn about the historic Market Street Burying Ground! Follow it up on Saturday 10/11 from 11am-2pm at the Market Street Burying Ground itself! Both events are free to the public.
#Boston #archaeology #history #ArchaeologyMonth

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · 10d

Happy MA Archaeology Month! We're opening the lab to the public on Friday, Oct. 24th, 10am-3pm. Drop in to check out the Mary C. Beaudry Community Archaeology Center, see our exhibits, & say hi to your friendly neighborhood archaeologists!
#Boston #archaeology #archaeologymonth #Massachusetts

An image of the state of Massachusetts made from archaeological artifacts with the text: October is Massachusetts Archaeology Month! Please join us for an open house at our lab! Friday, October 24th, 2025 from 10am-3pm at 201 Rivermoor Street, Boston 02132. The logos of the City of Boston Archaeology Program and City of Boston Office of Historic Preservation are at the bottom of the image.

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Reposted by City of Boston Archaeology

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 29d

In which I beg archaeologists to sign up for the fall semester of Skype a Scientist, because we're getting buried in requests for your area of expertise.

Sign up here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 29d

I run @skypeascientist.bsky.social which matches scientists w/classrooms, libraries, etc for Q&As.

We match First Lego League teams too. This tends to wipe out one category of scientist bc so many teams sign up for the same category (this year, archaeologists). We're almost out of archaeologists.

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Sep 9

Hey, Boston area FIRST LEGO League teams! We’re opening up our lab on Wednesday, October 15th for a special FLL Open House!

Join us from 10:30am-12pm for a tour of the lab and a Q&A session with your friendly neighborhood archaeologists! RSVPs are REQUIRED and space is limited! Email us to RSVP.

Text reads: Calling all Boston area LEGO League Teams! Join us for a special LEGO League Open House! Wednesday October 15, 2025 from 10:30am-12:00pm at the Mary C. Beaudry Community Archaeology Center, 201 Rivermoor St., West Roxbury 02132. RSVP Required! Email archaeology@boston.gov to RSVP.

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Aug 28

Follow the BPL link below for more information: bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/688d1...

Boston 250 Archaeology

Join the City of Boston's archaeology team, Boston 250 Archaeology, for an exciting look at their latest discoveries uncovering the underrepresented stories of the American Revolution in Boston. Lear...

bpl.bibliocommons.com

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Aug 28

Come connect with your city’s hidden history! 🌟

#bunkerhill250 #digbh250 #digboston #digcharlestown #America250 #BattleofBunkerHill #1775

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Aug 28

Plus, get a sneak peek at what’s coming up in our next round of fieldwork happening right here in Charlestown over the next few months.

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Aug 28

We’ll be sharing results from our recent excavations in Charlestown, uncovering underrepresented stories connected to the Battle of Bunker Hill and the burning of Charlestown - voices and perspectives often left out of traditional narratives.

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Aug 28

Tonight! 🕰️ Join the City of Boston Archaeology Program at the Charlestown Branch of the Boston Public Library for a free presentation. (1/5)

A vacant urban lot with disturbed soil and excavation markings, surrounded by red brick buildings. Several orange traffic cones are placed around a shallow trench and curved path in the dirt, indicating an archaeological site. In the background, there are dumpsters, construction materials, and a fire escape on the back of a tall brick building. The sky is overcast.

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Aug 28

To explore the claims and our full research, click here: www.boston.gov/.../archaeo....

#digBOS #digCTown #digBH250 #Boston250 #digBoston250 #dig250 #BOBH250 #BH250 #bosarchaeo2025 #boston #archaeology #history #MA250 #RevWar #america250 #Charlestown1775 (4/4)

www.boston.gov

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Aug 28

The highlighted claim here is from Thaddeus Mason, the Middlesex Clerk of Courts. His inventory included a detailed list of books, including titles like ‘Webster on Witchcraft’, ‘Lexicon Pentaglotten’, ‘Flavel’s Fountain of Grace’, ‘Mariner’s New Calendar’, & ‘Chauncy’s Seasonable Thoughts’. (3/4)

www.boston.gov

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Aug 28

These range from brief, heartbroken notes to detailed inventories filled with glimpses of daily life—bookshelves, household goods, even critical commentary on British troops. Despite resubmitting their claims for over 50 years, Charlestown residents were never compensated for their losses. (2/

www.boston.gov

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Aug 28

🚨 Big milestone! 🚨After nearly 2 years, we are very proud to announce that our team and volunteers have fully transcribed all 586 handwritten fire claims submitted by Charlestown residents after the town was burned during the Battle of Bunker Hill. (1/

Thaddeus Mason's 1776 loss claim showing the values of each book in his library

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Jul 31

Why do you think the collector of this cache held onto a snap button? Tell us your theories in the comments! (5/5)

#Boston #digBOS #digDorchester #digISFG #history #archaeology #Dorchester #womenshistory #children #historicalarchaeology #ISFGcache

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Jul 31

The buttons were very popular, but it wasn’t until 1903 with the patent of the S-spring snap button by German Hans Friedrich of the Prym Company that they really took off. Snap buttons made their way onto all kinds of clothing and accessories from utilitarian workwear to delicate blouses. (4/5)

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Jul 31

Albert-Pierre Raymond in France had been producing such buttons for a few years already & decided to take out his own patent in 1886 in France, the U.S., & Japan. Guess he didn’t want to get scooped again! (3/5)

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Jul 31

It was found tucked into the stones of the carriage house foundation during our 2015 excavation. This is the second post in the artifact-by-artifact series. Check out our past posts to catch up. The snap button, or press stud, was first patented in 1885 in Germany by Heribert Bauer. (2/5)

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Jul 31

We’re willing to bet you don’t think much about snap buttons. Mostly because we don’t either, but today they’re getting their moment in the sun. We’re exploring the contents of an early 20th-century cache found from the Dorchester Industrial School for Girls. (1/5)

A photo collage of 3 images: 1 showing the objects in the cache spread out over a grey background, and 2 close-ups of the back and front of silver-colored metal snap button parts.

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Jul 29

Did you catch us on @wgbh.org's @thecultureshowgbh.bsky.social yesterday? Click the link below & jump to 41:30 to hear our Public Archaeologist, Nadia, talk about doing archaeology in Boston & the artifacts featured in the free Unearthing Childhood exhibit, now open! www.wgbh.org/.../july-28-....

City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Jul 15

Keep a lookout for the next installment! #Boston #digBOS #digDorchester #digISFG #history #archaeology #Dorchester #womenshistory #children #historicalarchaeology 🧵5/5

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Jul 15

The 2nd earring is harder to date due to its melted glass decoration, but the screw-back fastening gives it away. This type was patented in 1894, but was most popular from the 1920s-50s. They were a popular alternative to pierced earrings, though clip-ons stole their thunder in the 30s. 🧵4/5

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Jul 15

The early 20th century saw the rediscovery of archaeological sites in colonized territories like Egypt, which sparked a trend for ancient Egyptian inspired jewelry. This earring was probably plated in a shiny gold-colored metal. 🧵3/5

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Jul 15

These two earrings are obviously from different pairs, but they both likely date to the 1920s. The geometric crescent-shaped earring is a classic example of Art Deco design with some fun Archaeological Revival elements. 🧵2/5

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Jul 15

ICYMI, we're investigating an object cache found in a stone wall of the carriage house (no longer standing) at the former Dorchester Industrial School for Girls. Going artifact by artifact, we’re kicking off with shiny things because we’re grown-ups & we can start with dessert if we want to! 🧵 1/5

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City of Boston Archaeology @archaeology.boston.gov · Jul 7

In the meantime, you can read more about our existing research here: www.boston.gov/departments/...

#Boston #digBOS #digDorchester #digISFG #history #archaeology #Dorchester #womenshistory #children #historicalarchaeology (6/6)

Dorchester Industrial School for Girls

The City Archaeology Program excavated the 1859 Dorchester Industrial School for Girls site located at 232 Centre Street.

www.boston.gov

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