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An
archaeological survey is currently
underway on the Gore estate.
Graduate and undergraduate
students from University of
Massachusetts in Boston under
the direction of archaeologist
Leith Smith will be systematically
searching the grounds for evidence
of farming and landscaping
during the Gore era.
The team is
in the field from 8:30am to
3:30pm most days (weather permitting)
and will welcome visitors to
the excavation sites. |
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After establishing
digging sites, students get
to work excavating. |
Sifting for
artifacts as the dig progresses.
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A group of
stones may indicated the site
of an early structure.
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| This
stone may indicate the location
of an old a posthole. A forged
nail found nearby suggests
the posthole may have been
part of a larger structure.
Nails were rarely used in early
fences. |
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| A walk around the
estate will afford any number
of wonderful views. |
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Here,
a field of Timothy in the northeast
portion of the Governor Gore
estate. A native grass of Europe,
Timothy was introduced to America
in the early 18th
century. Timothy produces a
high quality hay and was cultivated
for forage as early as circa
1720.
The Timothy is now in bloom
(as of 6/27/2008) and will
be for the next few weeks.
It makes for an impressive
sight as the purple flower
tops sway in the summer breeze.
To see the Timothy field, begin
at the Carriage house and walk
due east on the path along
the north border of the property. |
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| Also in bloom as
of this writing (6/27/2008) is
a new field of buckwheat. Buckwheat
is a crop known to have been
cultivated at Gore Place during
Christopher Gore's time. The
buckwheat will be turned-under
to enrich the soil as part of
a soil-building program. |
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| To
see the buckwheat field, walk
east along the path that begins
behind the Carriage House and
continue past the field of Timothy.
Turn right (south) along the
edge of the field and walk toward
the large compost piles. The
buckwheat field is just beyond
the compost piles. |
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| On
Saturday, July 5, more
than 350 people attended the
Birds of Prey Show with Raptor
rehabilitator Tom Ricardi. Tom
brought raptors from as small
as a saw-whet owl to the beautiful
bald eagle pictured above. Tom
has been working for many years
on behalf of these magnificent
birds and those attending were
treated to a presentation that
was as entertaining as it was
educational. |
