Archaeology of College Hill Excavations

Brown University's Ongoing Fieldwork in Providence, Rhode Island

Category: 25 Things Blog (Page 1 of 4)

‘Searching for the President’s House’ Exhibit

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On December 5, 2014

In 25 Things Blog, Site Diary

We’ve been out of the trenches and into the lab for about a month now, having traded our trowels and shovels for toothbrushes and B72 adhesive.

As we wrap things up for the semester we are pleased to share our research in a new exhibit currently being installed in Rhode Island Hall, entitled “Searching for the President’s House.” It includes a number of finds from the past three years of excavation conducted on the Quiet Green, historical information on the first President’s House, and materials tracing how the use of the Quiet Green has changed over the course of Brown’s history.

Please join us this Monday, December 8th at 3pm in the basement of Rhode Island Hall for the unveiling of the exhibit to gain a more in-depth glimpse into Brown’s unique material history!

Hospitality tents, slavery memorial, and Quiet Green excavations?

A new monument to Brown’s history on the Quiet Green

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On September 26, 2014

In 25 Things Blog, Site Diary

As part of Brown’s 250th celebrations, a new memorial to recognize the university’s connection to (and benefits from) the transatlantic slave trade will be dedicated this Saturday, September 27th. The memorial’s location on the Quiet Green – only a few yards from the house of the first president and our excavations – serves as a reminder of the ways in which the history of the university still carries weight in our daily lives. Although one of our primary research questions involves the search for remains of the first President’s House, we’re also interested in questions of all people impacting or impacted by the spaces of the Quiet Green. This new monument, and the 250th celebrations as a whole, inspire our team to dig deeper (figuratively, and literally) into the material remains of Brown’s past. You may notice our regular fencing has been removed for the weekend, to make way for preparations for the 250th celebrations and monument dedication. Fear not! You can still stop by and check out our early progress behind the yellow safety ropes.

For more information about the events of this weekend, check out the Fall Celebration Schedule.

David Caianiello ’14: Texts

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On April 21, 2014

In 25 Things Blog

In July of 1971 Brown and Pembroke officially merged, a result of decades of close partnership and cooperation. The dissolving of Pembroke College was not universally accepted, however, and the traditions and infrastructure of Brown quickly made Pembroke’s legacies a thing of the past. It is undoubtable, however, that the merger gave new life to campus and enhanced and gave much-needed diveristy to the Brown experience.

Blog posts by the students of Claudia Moser’s class ARCH 1764: 25 Things! 250 Years of Brown’s Material Past.

Nicole Chen ’14: Technology

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On April 21, 2014

In 25 Things Blog

Pictured above is a course summary of Professor Sue Alcock’s class, “Archaeology’s Dirty Little Secrets”, now available as a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Coursera. As a MOOC, the online course mirrors the archaeology course offered at Brown through video lectures and as a result, “extends, shapes, reworks, or reproduces the structure [a Brown education] in ways that are more or less unpredictable” (Bijker and Law). MOOCs like Professor Alcock’s class provide educational opportunities to people of all ages all around the world, however also come with some flaws, including the loss of teacher and student interaction in classrooms and peer-to-peer communication.

Blog posts by the students of Claudia Moser’s class ARCH 1764: 25 Things! 250 Years of Brown’s Material Past.

Emily Spinner ’14: Residential Buildings

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On April 21, 2014

In 25 Things Blog

I am writing about the Corliss-Brackett house, located at 45 Prospect Street. While many know it now as the home to the Philosophy and Economics Departments, it will always be the Admissions Department to me – a building that holds great sentimental value, as it was the origin of my first tour of Brown’s campus. However, it was once a residential home, which means the house meant something completely different to the past owners. Through my research on the Corliss-Brackett house, I will discuss object agency and the malleability of meaning throughout history.

Blog posts by the students of Claudia Moser’s class ARCH 1764: 25 Things! 250 Years of Brown’s Material Past.

Eliot Greene ’16: Photography

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On April 21, 2014

In 25 Things Blog

A women’s college anatomy class from 1900 – one of a number of photos adorning the walls of the Sharpe Refectory.

Blog posts by the students of Claudia Moser’s class ARCH 1764: 25 Things! 250 Years of Brown’s Material Past.

Leah Stansky ’14: Statues

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On April 21, 2014

In 25 Things Blog

This picture is of Circle Dance, a statue consisting of eleven life-sized human figures made out of aluminum turkey roasting pans that are holding hands and dancing in a circle. It is located on the south side of The Walk green space that connects Pembroke campus to the main campus of Brown University. The artist, Tom Friedman, based this sculpture of Henri Matisse’s painting, La Danse.

Blog posts by the students of Claudia Moser’s class ARCH 1764: 25 Things! 250 Years of Brown’s Material Past.

Philip Tabak ’15: Texts

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On April 21, 2014

In 25 Things Blog

SPEAK TO THE PAST AND IT SHALL TEACH THEE.

The inscription is the self-proclaimed motto of the JCB Library and is a variation of a passage from the Book of Job, Chapter Twelve, Verse Eight. This statement influences our experience and recordings of historical events and artifacts.  Furthermore, the statement demands that we engage in a dialogue with these artifacts, elevating the ideas of agency and material culture to the upmost importance.

Blog posts by the students of Claudia Moser’s class ARCH 1764: 25 Things! 250 Years of Brown’s Material Past.

Darcy Andrews ’14: Residential Buildings

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On April 21, 2014

In 25 Things Blog

The cars parked outside of Andrews Hall have changed drastically since this photograph was taken in 1947, but the facade has remained largely as it was when it was first built as part of Pembroke College. Now a revitalized focal point for social life at Brown, the residence hall has acted as a medium for political and social expression through the decades. Its biography reflects the social history of the students it houses every year.

Blog posts by the students of Claudia Moser’s class ARCH 1764: 25 Things! 250 Years of Brown’s Material Past.

Emily Chu ’14: Technology

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On April 21, 2014

In 25 Things Blog

BlogDailyHerald, the younger and quirkier sibling of The Brown Daily Herald, acts as an object with its own agency, helping to determine how the image of Brown is viewed by students and outsiders. BlogDailyHerald’s posts inform students of everything from course selection to free food events. BlogDailyHerald is a daily staple in many students’ lives and has acted as an unconventional and edgy record of Brown’s recent history. The popularity of BlogDailyHerald represents a shift from print to online news as technology burgeons on college campuses.

Blog posts by the students of Claudia Moser’s class ARCH 1764: 25 Things! 250 Years of Brown’s Material Past.

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