Stanhope Historical Society, in partnership with Parks Canada continued its exploration of an
18th Century archaeological dig site in summer 2011.
Rob Ferguson, Chief Archaeologist for Parks Canada Atlantic region, came to Stanhope the first week of August 2010 and again in the second week of August 2011 to resurrect the dig that was begun in 2008. At that time numerous artifacts from the late 18th century were uncovered by a team of willing volunteers organized by John Palmer, then President of the Historical Society. The site lies alongside the Farmlands trail in the National Park.
There were again volunteers from various parts of the Island and those who came from off Island to Stanhope to meticulously scrape their way down to uncover many more artifacts. Pictures of their work are attached as well as a report from Rob Ferguson.
Many of the volunteers were anxious to continue the dig in 2011 and many new volunteers came as well. John Palmer again provided the organisation of the staff. In addition several members of Parks Canada came to help. Thanks go to Parks Canada staff who were very helpful in many ways in supporting the effort. Also the CBC, Radio Canada and the Guardian newspaper publicised the work.
The exact nature of the site still remains a mystery and Rob Ferguson was very keen to continue the dig. On the last day in 2010 he uncovered stones deep in the ground that he believes are a cellar floor. The site lies in an area that was part of the original Stanhope Farm, established by James Montgomery, owner of Lot 34, in 1770. There are no historical records of a dwelling on this site but we know that the Bovyer family, United Empire Loyalists, acquired the lease for the farm in the late 1780`s and farmed it for many decades. The artifacts generally have been dated to that period.
John Palmer, Past President, Stanhope Historical Society.
Stanhope Farmlands Archaeological Project, PEI National Park.
Rob Ferguson (retired), Atlantic Service Centre, Parks Canada
For the third year, Parks Canada and the Stanhope Historical Society (SHS) collaborated on a week-long excavation in a late 18th-century house on the north shore of Prince Edward Island. In 2008, SHS members requested an investigation of a large depression along the Farmlands Trail in PEI National Park. A team of volunteers organized through SHS, working with Parks Canada archaeologist Rob Ferguson, spent one week in 2008 and again in 2010 and 2011 testing the site. Artefacts indicate an occupation falling within the late 18th and/or early 19th century. Creamwares and pearlwares dominate the ceramic assemblage, as well as agateware and black basaltes stoneware, verifying a post-Acadian time period. There are no artefacts to indicate a continued later 19th-century occupation.
The site is within the bounds of a former flax plantation established by James Montgomery, an absentee landlord who acquired rights to Lot 34 in 1767, after the deportation of the French population in 1758. David Lawson was sent over as overseer for the plantation, together with about 50 Scottish settlers in 1770. Lawson was dismissed in 1788 over mishandling of funds. The farm was subsequently leased to the Bovyer family, Loyalists from Rhode Island who had recently arrived on the island. The Bovyers occupied Lawson’s house at least until 1802. It is possible that this is the Lawson/Bovyer residence, although the connection is tenuous. One of the Bovyer sons remained in Saint John, New Brunswick and served in the New Brunswick Regiment. In our first season, we recovered a copper alloy button of the New Brunswick Regiment. The coincidence of regiment and time period is our only clue to the identification of the structure.
Excavations in 2008 and 2010 revealed a shallow midden deposit north of the cellar, and provided a cross-section into the north side of the cellar. This year, excavations were focussed on the cellar floor. An area 2.5 x 5 m was opened, exposing a chimney base and a thick deposit of charcoal and artefacts presumably dumped from the hearth above. Much of the cellar had been filled over the years with field stones removed from ploughed fields adjacent to the Farmlands Trail. Artefacts within that stratum are small and scattered. Once below that, however, there are sizable pieces of ceramics, especially creamware plates. Apart from the kitchen-related items, there are few other artefacts relating to activities or to the house construction. Wrought iron nails are limited, and there are only a couple of hinge fragments. Also there are surprisingly few tobacco pipe fragments, and faunal remains are scant.
The cellar floor has not yet been reached. It is hoped that excavations can continue in 2012, completing the work of 2011 and expanding into deeper parts of the cellar. Parks Canada is grateful to members of the Stanhope Historical Society, and in particular John Palmer who coordinated the long list of daily volunteers and sustained us with daily nourishment. Tara McNally coordinated project logistics for Parks Canada. The site is located on a popular hiking trail, making it an exciting point of interpretation for the human history of our national park.
