Archaeological Investigations at the Narbonne House Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Massachusetts

Author(s): Geoffrey P. Moran; Edward F. Zimmer; Anne E. Yentsch

Year: 1982

Summary

The Narbonne house was built c. 1670 in Salem, Massachusetts, and is now part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. It was the home of tradesmen and artisans, and is valued as a rare surviving example of 17th century vernacular architecture. Excavations began in 1973 as part of the National Park Service program to rehabilitate the structure. Three field seasons included the excavation of numerous features, the most important being a first period lean-to foundation, cobblestone driveway 1 dairy, well, privies, and trash pits. The site has been especially notable for the quantity of its artifacts (over 138,000) and the range of its fine imported late 18th century English ceramics and Chinese porcelain, which are described and illustrated in detail. Particular attention has been given to the successive generations of occupants, their impact on the house and the site, and their relationship to excavated evidence. The pattern of artifact distribution in sheet refuse and trash deposits has been investigated. Recommendations for site interpretation and additional research have been made.

Cite this Record

Archaeological Investigations at the Narbonne House Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Massachusetts. Geoffrey P. Moran, Edward F. Zimmer, Anne E. Yentsch. Cultural Resources Management Study ,6. Boston, Massachusetts: Division of Cultural Resources, North Atlantic Regional Office, National Park Service. 1982 ( tDAR id: 366141) ; doi:10.6067/XCV8F76B06

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

Culture
Euroamerican • Historic

Material
Building Materials • Ceramic • Fauna • Glass • Metal • Mineral • Wood

Site Name
Narbonne House

Site Type
Archaeological Feature • Commercial or Industrial Structures • Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex • Governmental Structure • Non-Domestic Structures • Resource Extraction / Production / Transportation Structure or Features

Investigation Types
Archaeological Overview • Architectural Documentation • Data Recovery / Excavation • Historic Background Research • Site Evaluation / Testing

General
Archaeozoological Study • archeological overview/synthesis-project Spec • Architecture • Cultural Chronology • Cultural Processes • Disposal Patterns • Economy • Site Settlement • Social Organization • Statement For Management • Technology • Trash

Geographic Keywords
Essex (County) • Massachusetts (State / Territory) • New England • North America (Continent) • Salem • Salem Harbor • States of America (Country)

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1670 to 1973

Spatial Coverage

min long: -70.909; min lat: 42.504 ; max long: -70.873; max lat: 42.534 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): National Park Service North Atlantic Regional Office

Sponsor(s): National Park Service, North Atlantic Regional Office

Repository(s): Salem Maritime National Historic Site

Prepared By(s): Public Archaeology Laboratory, Brown University

Record Identifiers

NADB document id number(s): 15472; 15472

Contract #(s): CX-2000-4-0028

NADB citation id number(s): 000000089122; 000000089122

File Information

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