Archaeology and Slavery in the North

Dr. Alexandra Chan is a New Hampshire based Historic Archaeologist with decades of experience in field work and publication. She will be presenting compelling findings from three years of excavation at the Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford, MA, home to the largest slave-holding family in the colony,

Dr. Chan will examine the role of material culture, architecture, and landscape in enhancing traditional documentary histories, as well as allowing some significant myth-busting about what it was like to be black and enslaved in colonial New England. We will learn how archaeologists "know what they know," and then examine a variety of elements of enslaved life, the structures of power that the Royall family were able to wield to attain and retain their station, and discuss the nature of Master-Slave relationships at this site. Attendees will be interested to hear some of the comparisons and contrasts between New England slavery, and Southern and Caribbean systems of the institution.

The presentation will be at the Button Factory Stage at WSCA 106.1 FM, 909 Islington Street, #1.  The WSCA radio station entrance is on the left side of the building with "duckfeet" above the door. Admission is free and open to the public.