Archaeological Investigations at the Loring-Greenough House

In June 1999, Katharine Cipolla of The Jamaica Plain Tuesday Club, Inc. contacted The Center for Cultural and Environmental History at the University of Massachusetts Boston to conduct a survey of the property surrounding The Loring Greenough House in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. Proposed archaeological investigations were prompted by restoration plans designed to enhance the interpretive program for The Loring-Greenough House and its residents covering almost 240 years. The Loring-Greenough House was built in 1760 by British Commodore Joshua Loring. The house is a certified Massachusetts Historic Landmark because of its connections with the American Revolution and its value as an example of Colonial architecture. The mansion with adjoining carriage house and gardens is the last of the country estates in Jamaica Plain. The property surrounding The Loring-Greenough House appeared to possess high historic archaeological integrity. Given the long cultivation of The Loring-Greenough House, our archaeological investigations provided information about the property's land use history. In addition to the extant structures, the parcel retained evidence of historic landscaping and outbuildings. Archaeological remains increased our knowledge of the 18th-century country estate and 19th-century domestic life and farming practices.

1999年6月，牙买加平原周二俱乐部公司（The Jamaica Plain Tuesday Club, Inc.）的凯瑟琳·西波拉（Katharine Cipolla）联系了马萨诸塞大学波士顿分校文化与环境历史中心（The Center for Cultural and Environmental History at the University of Massachusetts Boston），委托该中心对马萨诸塞州牙买加平原的洛林-格林诺夫宅邸（The Loring Greenough House）周边地块开展考古调查。此次拟实施的考古调查，源于为完善覆盖近240年历史脉络的洛林-格林诺夫宅邸及其居住者阐释项目而制定的修复计划。洛林-格林诺夫宅邸由英国海军准将约书亚·洛林（Joshua Loring）于1760年始建，因其与美国独立战争的渊源，以及作为殖民时期建筑典范的价值，被认证为马萨诸塞州历史地标。该宅邸连同附属马车房与花园，是牙买加平原地区仅存的乡村庄园遗存。洛林-格林诺夫宅邸周边地块展现出极高的历史考古完整性。鉴于洛林-格林诺夫宅邸及其周边土地长期的开发利用历程，本次考古调查揭示了地块的土地使用历史。除现存建筑外，该地块还留存了历史景观与附属外屋的遗迹。考古遗存极大丰富了我们对18世纪乡村庄园以及19世纪家庭生活与农耕实践的认知。