Restoring the Double Row, Clumps, and Carriage Turnaround of Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest: Three Interdisciplinary Case Studies in Landscape Restoration

Summary

Archaeological research associated with recent landscape restoration efforts at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest has provided not only the details to accurately replant select elements of the ornamental grounds but has also yielded new insights into Jefferson’s influences, thought processes, and skills as a landscape designer. This paper will discuss three projects and the interdisciplinary efforts used to locate ornamental plantings, address the age of extant vegetation, and understand the paving of a circular carriage turnaround at Jefferson’s retreat home. The details recovered during these projects reveal the practical aspects of Jefferson’s design, the global nature of this garden, and insight into the identity of its creator.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014   •
• Foregrounding the Landscape in Archaeology

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-38,04