Labs and Technology
The Washington College Public Archaeology Laboratory is located in one of Chestertown's most important historic buildings, the Custom House. Built in 1745 at the foot of High Street, the Custom House was bequeathed to Washington College in 1994 by Wilbur Ross Hubbard. The structure was fully renovated in 2000 and 2001.
Prior to the renovation, archaeologists from the College conducted a six-month excavation on the grounds, revealing much of the long buried history of the house and early Chestertown. In the spring of 2002, the Public Archaeology Laboratory joined the College's Center for Environment and Society and the C.V. Starr Center for the American Experience in the newly renovated building.
The archaeology lab occupies the ground floor of the Custom House and is open to the public. It provides a space for students, staff and community volunteers to process artifact collections and work on other historic materials recovered from the region. Artifacts and field excavation records are brought into the archaeology lab for processing, analysis and storage. All recovered artifacts must be cleaned, identified and labeled. This information is then entered into an electronic database for easy reference.
Other aspects of laboratory work include accessioning photographic collections, analyzing excavation records and notes, conducting historical research, entering computer data, preparing reports, developing displays and exhibits and giving guided tours to visitors and school groups. Mapping and analysis of spatial data generally is performed in the program's GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Lab on campus in Goldstein Hall.
The Public Archaeology Laboratory includes both a wet lab and a dry lab, reference and office areas, and artifact storage space. A collection of archaeological journals and reports and an array of other research materials are available for student and volunteer use. Displays and interpretive signs for visitors are placed throughout the laboratory.
The public is invited to stop by the archaeology lab. Enter at the double doors facing High Street. Students and staff will be happy to show you through the facility, explaining the work of the archaeologist, both in the field and in the lab. However, due to busy academic schedules, the Washington College Public Archaeology Laboratory maintains flexible hours of operation. Special arrangements can be made by calling ahead (410-810-7164).