
English: 
Welcome to this preview of Plimoth Plantation's newest exhibition
History in a New Light:
Illuminating the Archaeology
of Historic Patuxet and Plymouth.
We would like to thank our
sponsors, Cathy and Bob Brawer
Carlo and Kathryn Lamagna
Colonial Dames of America
and Mass Humanities.
This exhibition would have not
been possible without their support.
We also want to thank our partner
Project 400 as well as
Drs. David Landon and
Christa Beranek and 
their team at the University
of Massachusetts, Boston Fiske
Center for Archaeological Research.
With this exhibition,
Plimoth Plantation wanted
to do something a little
different for the
400th anniversary of
Mayflower's arrival.
And instead looked to the twelve
thousand plus years of history
that have taken place in 
this spot, to better reflect
on how the landscape has changed
 by the people using it
and how they in turn
have been changed by 
this landscape.
One of the most exciting
ways we have been thinking about this
at the museum
is through recent archaeology being
conducted in downtown Plymouth
by the University of 
Massachusetts, Boston
Fiske Center for 
Archaeological Research
and Project 400.
As well as thorugh a
re-examination of the rich

English: 
Welcome to this preview of Plimoth
Plantation's newest exhibition history
In A New Light: Illuminating the
Archaeology of Historic Patuxet and
Plymouth we would like to thank our
sponsors Cathy and Bob Brawer, Carlo and
Kathryn LaMagna, Colonial Dames of
America and Mass Humanities. this
exhibition would have not been possible
without their support we also want to
thank our partner project 400 as well as
doctors David Landon and Christopher
Anik and their team at the University of
Massachusetts Boston Fisk Center for
archaeological research with this
exhibition plans Plantation wanted to do
something a little different for the
400th anniversary of Mayflower's arrival
and instead look to the 12,000 plus
years of history that have taken place
in this spot to better reflect on how
the landscape has changed by the people
using it and how they in turn have been
changed by this landscape one of the
most exciting ways we have been thinking
about this at the museum is through
recent archaeology being conducted in
downtown Plymouth by the University of
Massachusetts Boston Fisk Center for
archaeological research and project 400

English: 
as well as through a reexamination of
the rich archaeological collections that
we hold here at the Museum archaeology
documentary analysis oral history and
finding decorative arts all go into the
research that we do here at Plymouth
Plantation and inform our
interpretations at our living history
sites the beginning of the exhibition
starts with establishing the Wampanoag
world before the arrival of Europeans on
these shores the settlement of Patuxet
stood where the Town of Plymouth is now
but it is important to note that the
Wampanoag people of Patuxet would not
have been isolated or alone
in fact the Wampanoag had extensive and
complex communication and trade networks
these stone tools recovered from a site
near the museum reflect 8000 plus years
of technological change
archaeological analysis of these tools
demonstrated that the raw materials were
acquired from as far away as New York
Pennsylvania and the Great Lakes region
while Wampanoag oral history suggests
that the networks extended as far as
Ohio and perhaps beyond the waterways
were significant means of travel but
also provided resources to the people

English: 
archaeological collections 
that we hold here at the museum.
Archaeology, documentary analysis,
oral history, and 
fine and decorative arts
all go into the research
that we do here at
Plimoth Plantation
and inform our 
interpretations at our
living history sites.
The beginning of the exhibition
starts with establishing
the Wampanoag world before 
the arrival
of Europeans on these shores.
The settlement of Patuxet
stood where the town
of Plymouth is now,
but it is important to
note that the Wampanoag
people of Patuxet would not 
have been isolated and alone.
In fact the Wampanoag had
extensive and
complex communication
and trade networks.
These stone tools recovered
from a site near the museum
reflect 8,000+ years of 
technological change.
Archaeological analysis
of these tools
demonstrated that the
raw materials were acquired
from as far away as New York,
Pennsylvania, and the 
Great Lakes region,
while Wampanoag
oral history suggests
that the networks extended 
as far as
Ohio and perhaps beyond.
The waterways were significant
means of travel
but also provided resources
to the people
living along them,
And we see archaeological 
representations

English: 
of the different ways that
those waterways were
being used over time.
As we continue through the exhibition
I wanted to take a 
moment to talk about
this display in particular
since a block of dirt
in a case might strike
the average person as odd.
Many people know the 
story about how Tisquantum,
also known as Squanto,
taught the Pilgrims
to plant with fish
but in the 1970s, 
some scholars started to
question whether this
was a practice
traditional to the
Wampanoag, or if they
had learned it from Europeans.
An Indigenous scholar
at Plimoth Plantation
named Nanepashmet
studied 17th century
sources about planting with fish
to demonstrate that
this had been done by
Indigenous communities 
well before their
contact with Europeans.
At the same time, 
archaeologist Dr. Steven
Mrozowski was excavating
a pre-contact Wampanoag 
planting field in
Truro, Massachusetts
and began working with Nanepashmet.
When archaeologists found
fish bones in the planting mounds
the archaeology was 
able to complement
the research that Nanepashmet
had been doing.
The block of sediment in 
this case was taken
a few years ago from the 
base of Burial Hill in Plymouth

English: 
living along them and we see
archaeological representations of the
different ways that those waterways were
being used over time as we continue
through the exhibition I wanted to take
a moment to talk about this display in
particular since a block of dirt in a
case might strike the average person is
odd many people know the story about how
to Squanto also known as Squanto taught
the pilgrims to plant with fish but in
the 1970s some scholars started to
question whether this was a practice
traditional to the Wampanoag or if they
had learned it from Europeans an
indigenous scholar at Plymouth
Plantation named on a parchment studied
17th century sources about planting with
fish to demonstrate that this had been
done by indigenous communities well
before their contact with Europeans at
the same time archaeologist dr. Stephen
rose askew was excavating a pre-contact
whompin are planting field in Truro
Massachusetts and begin working with Nanepashemet when archeologists found fish
bones in the planting mounds the
archaeology was able to complement the
research that not a parchment had been
doing the block of sediment in this case
was taken a few years ago from the base
of burial Hill in Plymouth and

English: 
and impregnated with polyresin to
preserve the intact dirt.
When archaeologists 
sliced it open they
found small fish bones, 
likely Herring,
in this planting mound as well.
We love this connection 
to Plimoth Plantation's
own intellectual history,
but these newer techniques 
in archaeology
now allow us to continue
to preserve this
planting mound so that
it is available for
continued study.
As new developments in
science change the
types of experiments we can do.
Wampanoag people would
live in Patuxet
close to the water during
the spring and summer,
utilizing water resources
and planting and
processing foods.
More tools than just
fishing equipment would be
needed and this case 
contains the types of items
that would have been necessary
for weaving reed mats,
processing nuts and seeds,
and manufacturing mishoon
or dugout canoes.
After felling a tree,
the Wampanoag would
use fire to hollow out the inside,
scraping the burned
wood away with
shells or stone adzes.
Mishoon ranged in size
with some large
enough to hold 40 people.
When the Europeans arrived
with their own technologies,

English: 
impregnated with polyresin
to preserve the intact dirt when
archaeologists sliced it open
they found small fish bones likely
herring in this planting mound as well
we loved this connection to Plymouth
Plantation's own intellectual history but
these newer techniques in archaeology
now allow us to continue to preserve
this planting mound so that it is
available for continued study as new
developments in science change the types
of experiments that we can do Wampanoag
people would live in Patuxet close to
the water during the spring and summer
utilizing water resources and planting
and processing foods more tools than
just fishing equipment would be needed
in this case contains the types of items
that would have been necessary for
weaving mats processing nuts and
seeds and manufacturing machine or
dugout canoes after felling a tree the
Wampanoag would use fire to hollow out
the inside scraping the burned wood away
with shells as shown adzes machine
ranged in size
with some large enough to hold 40 people

English: 
when the Europeans arrived with their
own technologies they were accessing the
same water inshore resources as the
indigenous people despite obvious
differences in materials and forms this
part of the display aims to demonstrate
how similar different fishing
technologies are throughout time and
includes reproductions of 17th century
Wampanoag 17th century European and 21st
century sinker weights fish hooks and
nets capturing large numbers of fish was
sometimes necessary and the Wampanoag
would construct efficient we're similar
to this model fish would swim into the
fence of woven branches and would get
stuck in the holding area making them
easy to catch beginning in the 16th
century Europeans began regularly
visiting what we now call New England to
access the rich fishing grounds a
permanent settlement was not successful
in the Massachusetts coast however until
the arrival of Mayflower this model of
the ship was constructed by renowned
model ship builder Eric AR Ronon Berg
jr. between 1973 and 1974 it represents
William a Baker's intended design for

English: 
they were accessing the
same water and shore
resources as the
Indigenous people.
Despite obvious differences 
in materials and forms,
this part of the display
aims to demonstrate
how similar different 
fishing technologies are
throughout time,
and includes reproductions of 17th
century Wampanoag,
17th century European,
and 21st century sinker weights,
fish hooks, and nets.
Capturing large numbers 
of fish was sometimes
necessary and the 
Wampanoag would construct
fishing weirs similar
to this model.
Fish would swim into 
the fence of woven branches
and would get stuck 
in the holding area
making them easy to catch.
Beginning in the 16th century,
Europeans began regularly
visiting what
we now call New England
to access the rich
fishing grounds.
A permanent settlemnt
was not successful
on the Massachusetts coast however
until the arrival of Mayflower.
This model of the ship
was constructed by
renowned model shipbuilder
Erik A.R. Ronnberg Jr.
between 1973 and 1974.
It represents William A. Baker's intended

English: 
design for the reproduction 
ship Mayflower II.
This model was made so accurately
that our maritime artisans
used it to check that
they had cataloged
the lines for the rigging correctly
when the full sized ship
was being restored.
As European peoples
increased their contact
with New England,
the types of materials
being traded for
and exchanged increased.
When Europeans began
settling this area,
they still relied on 
items from home,
but at the same time 
began to use Indigenous
objects in novel 
and familiar ways.
These cases contain common items
that would have been sent
back and forth across the Atlantic.
In the case of goods 
from New England,
furs, fish, and timber 
were important
resources driving the 
emerging colonial
economy and prompting Europeans to
settle on this land.
The materials in the case 
representing goods from Europe
such as cloth, copper,
and other items
would have been traded
with Wampanoag people.
However archaeology
also demonstrates
that ceramic vessels from 
all over Europe
were also sent to New England
for their use by the colonists
and also exchange with
Indigenous communities.

English: 
the reproduction ship Mayflower 2 this
model was made so accurately that our
maritime artisans used it to check that
they had catalogued the lines for the
rigging correctly when the full-size
ship was being restored as European
peoples increased their contact with New
England the types of materials being
treated for and exchanged increased when
Europeans began settling this area they
still relied on items from home but at
the same time began to use indigenous
objects and novel and familiar ways
these cases contain common items that
would have been sent back and forth
across the Atlantic in the case of goods
from New England first fish and timber
were important resources driving the
emergent colonial economy and prompting
Europeans to settle on this land the
materials in the case representing goods
from Europe such as cloth copper and
other items would have been traded with
Wampanoag people however archaeology
also demonstrates that ceramic vessels
from all over Europe were also sent to
New England for their use by the
colonists and also exchanged with

English: 
indigenous communities in this section
the exhibition we move forward in time
very quickly after the settlement of
Europeans in this area the waterways
were being used not just for resource
extraction and transportation but now
also for hydropower to turn the wheels
of Mills north plantations own grist
mill sits very near the location of the
earliest crystalline Plymouth built in
1636 and this model of it shows how the
falling water powers the millstone by
the beginning of the 19th century
however Hellmuth had started to become
an industrial center in Massachusetts
with numerous mills and factories
constructing dams along town Brook and
using them for power Plymouth was no
longer simply exporting resources from
the land but now manufacturing items in
the case you see a sample of items that
were made in Plymouth a bottle from
Plymouth bottling works a hedge company
brick and a pharmaceutical bottle with
the address of the Plymouth pharmacy by
the turn of the 20th century however
most of these mills and factories were
no longer operational and the Town of

English: 
In this section of the 
exhibition we move forward in time
Very quickly after the settlement
of Europeans in this area
the waterways were being
used not just for
resource extraction 
and transportation
but now also for hydropwer
to turn the
wheels of mills.
Plimoth Plantation's own
Grist Mill sits
very near the location of 
the earliest
grist mill in Plymouth,
built in 1636.
And this model of it shows how
the falling water powers
the mill stone.
By the beginning of the
19th century, however
Plymouth had started to
become an industrial
center in Massachusetts.
With numerous mills and 
factories constructing
dams along Town Brook
and using them for power,
Plymouth was no longer simply
exporting resources from 
the land, but
now manufacturing items.
In the case, you see a 
sample of items
that were made in Plymouth.
A bottle from Plymouth Bottlingworks,
a Hedge Co. brick, and
a pharmaceutical
bottle with the address of
a Plymouth pharmacy.
By the turn of the 20th
century, however
most of these mills and factories
were no longer operational
and the town of Plymouth began
renovating the landscape

English: 
Plymouth began renovating the landscape
to better entice the growing tourist
trade and prepare for the 1923 centenary
of Mayflower's arrival by 2002 almost
all industrial use of water on town
Brook had ceased leaving behind decaying
mill sites and stretches of water that
few fish could pass through
environmentalists began working with
community of representatives to remove
the dams along Town Brook and upgrade
the ladders and passages used by
migrating fish
thanks to these efforts herring in
particular have started to return for
the annual round and numbers not seen
for generations in Plymouth has become a
national model for water a restoration
archaeology has a long legacy at
Plymouth Plantation starting with our
founder Harry Hornblower's training in
archaeology and how it influenced his
dream to create this museum because of
this this section introduces our
visitors to archaeology as practice
there are several interactive displays
here including a three-dimensional
reconstruction of an archaeological unit
from the project four hundred day to
explain features and why they're so

English: 
to better entice the
growing tourist trade
and prepare for the 
1920 tercentenary
of Mayflower's arrival.
By 2002, almost all industrial
use of water on Town Brook had ceased,
leaving behind decaying 
mill sites and stretches
of water that few fish
could pass through.
Environmentalists began 
working with community
representatives to remove 
the dams along
Town Brook
and update the ladders 
and passages used
by migrating fish.
Thanks to these efforts, 
herring in particular
have started to return for
the annual run in numbers
not seen for generations,
and Plymouth has become 
a national model
for waterway restoration.
Archaeology has a long 
legacy at Plimoth Plantation
starting with our founder 
Harry Hornblower's
training in archaeology 
and how it influenced
his dream to create this museum.
Because of this, this section
introduces our visitors
to archaeology as practice.
There are several interactive 
displays here
including a 3D reconstruction of an
archaeological unit from 
the Project 400 dig
to explain features and
why they're so
important to archaeological
interpretation,

English: 
important to our colossal interpretation
a Florida ceiling game to teach the
importance of stratigraphic layers and
archaeological analysis in cases
demonstrating how our artisans use
archaeological materials to create the
museum's reproductions including a
display of flint knapping as a seven
step process from Kabul to point
this beautiful indigenous cooking pot
was recovered from the banks of the Cape
Cod Canal in 1936 by Harry Hornblower's
mentor the a vocational archaeologist
Jessie Brewer it likely dates to around
1500 because of the crust shell included
in the clay to prevent it from shrinking
and cracking during firing this type of
pot would be used for cooking in the
coals of a fire and it's round bass
would be supported by rocks
the final section of the exhibition
features the exciting new archaeological
research being done by project 400 and
UMass Boston's Fisk Center for
archaeological research since 2012 the
University of Massachusetts Boston
Plymouth Plantation and the Town of
Plymouth have undertaken a collaborative
project to explore the archaeology of
17th century Plymouth Colony the UMass

English: 
a floor to ceiling game to teach
the importance of stratigraphic
layers in
archaeological analysis,
an cases demonstrating 
how our artisans
use archaeological materials
to create
the museum's reproductions
including a display 
of flint knapping
as a 7-step process from 
cobble to point.
This beautiful Indigenous
cooking pot was
recovered from the banks of 
the Cape Cod Canal
in 1936 by Harry Hornblower's mentor
the avocational archaeologist 
Jesse Brewer.
It likely dates to around 
1500 because
of the crushed shell included
in the clay
to prevent it from shrinking 
and cracking during firing.
This type of pot would be 
used for cooking
in the coals of a fire
and its round base would be 
supported by rocks.
The final section of
the exhibition
features the exciting,
new archaeological
research being done by 
Project 400 and
UMass Boston's Fiske Center
for Archaeological Research.
Since 2012, the University of
Massachusetts Boston, 
Plimoth Plantation,
the the Town of Plymouth
have undertaken a collaborative
project to explore the
archaeology of
17th-century Plymouth Colony

English: 
The UMass Boston team surveyed
numerous locations 
in Downtown Plymouth,
looking for intact 
17th-century deposits
But the town sits on top
of the location of
the Wampanoag settlement
of Patuxet
and the original Plymouth
Colony settlement.
Four hundred years of history and
continuous occupation
have significantly disturbed much
of the evidence for
17th-century activities.
When the team began excavating at
the base of Burial Hill however,
they found a small, intact 
section of the
original Plymouth Colony,
including two 17th-century houses,
a portion of the palisade
wall that surrounded the town
and a contemporary 
Indigenous encampment
or settlement.
In this display, we wanted 
to immerse the visitor
in the site,
So a large drone photograph
of the site
at the end of the 
2019 field season
makes up the mural 
behind the object cases
On this mural you can 
actually make out the
three significant features
to which
each of the cases relates.
The case in front of 
the pit feature
from the Indigenous deposit
contains some of the
pottery fragments,
stone tools, and the 
flakes from
stone tool manufacture
that were found
in this area.

English: 
Boston team surveyed numerous locations
downtown Plymouth looking for intact
17th century deposits but the town sits
on top of the location of the Wampanoag
settlement of Patuxet and the original
Plymouth Colony settlement 400 years of
history and continuous occupation have
significantly disturbed much of the
evidence for 17th century activities
when the team began excavating at the
base of Burial Hill however they found a
small intact section of the original
Plymouth Colony including two
seventeenth century houses abortion of
the palisade wall that surrounded the
town and a contemporary indigenous
encampment or settlement in this display
we wanted to immerse the visitor in the
site so a large drone photograph of the
site at the end of the 2019 field season
makes up the mural behind the object
cases on this mural you can actually
make out the three significant features
in each of the cases relates the case in
front of the pit feature from the
indigenous deposit and contains some of
the pottery fragments stone tools and
the flakes from stone tool manufacturer

English: 
Small fragments of 
European objects were
also found here, 
helping archaeologists
establish its use as
contemporary to the
1620s Plymouth Colony.
The center case is 
positioned near the
palisade wall feature 
and contains
what archaeologists call 
small finds,
typically items that would 
have been used
for personal adornment or 
trade and kept
close to the body, such as 
coins, beads,
straight pins, and a cloth bale seal.
These items could have been used
and worn by the English 
colonists or traded
with and repurposed by 
the Wampanoag people
living near them.
The third case is 
positioned in front of
the early 17th-century 
house feature,
which appears to have been 
cut into the hill
and contains fallen daub or mud plaster
that might have made up 
the chimney or walls.
This case contains the items
representing 17th-century 
English domestic life
that were found in or near this
feature inside the palisade wall.
Wampanoag pottery was also
found in these deposits, 
which is not that
surprising when colonists 
would have to wait a long
time for replacement goods from England.
Why not trade wih your neighbors
for similar items?

English: 
that were found in this area small
fragments of European objects were also
found here helping archaeologists
establish its uses contemporary to the
1620s Plymouth Colony the Centre case is
positioned near the palisade wall
feature and contains what archaeologists
call small fines typically items that
would have been used for personal
adornment or trade and kept close to the
body such as coins beads straight pins
and a cloth bail seal these items could
have been used and warmed by the English
colonists or traded with and repurposed
by the Wampanoag people living near them
the third case is positioned in front of
the early 17th century house feature
which appears to have been cut into the
hill and contains fallen daub or mud
plaster that might have made up the
chimney our walls this case contains the
items representing 17th century English
domestic life that were found in or near
this feature inside the palisade wall
Wampanoag pottery was also found in
these deposits which is not that
surprising when colonists would have to
wait a long time for replacement goods
from England why not trade with your
neighbors for similar items our

English: 
Our interpretive staff have 
experimented and
found that because Wampanoag 
pots were placed on
a tripod made of stones in the coals,
they are used similarly to 
an Engish pipkin,
which has three legs.
So an English housewife 
using a Wampanoag pot
would be able to continue to 
make food in an English way
just using Wampanoag technology.
The Project 400 display
is designed to change as research continues.
As there are more field
seasons to come
it is likely that over 
time this research
will develop the nuance of our
understanding of what 
happened here
in the 17th century
and strengthen our own 
interpretation here
at Plimoth Plantation
of the relationships between 
the Wampanoag
people and the English colonists.
If you would like more 
information about the
Curatorial Department at 
Plimoth Plantation and the
collections that are 
stewarded by the museum
we invite you to explore 
the Learn tab at
Plimoth.org
or visit Plimoth.org/collections.
If you would like to 
view an online version
of a selection of the 
exhibition panels,
a link can be found at 
Plimoth.org/collections.
The exhibit will be 
installed in the

English: 
interpretive staff have experimented and
found that because Wampanoag pots were
placed on a tripod made of stones in the
coals they're used similarly to an
English Pipkin which has three legs
so in English housewife using a Wampanoag
pot would be able to continue to make
food in an English way just using Wampanoag
technology the Project 400 display
is designed to change as research
continues as there are more field
seasons to come
it is likely that over time this
research will develop the nuance of our
understanding of what happened here in
the 17th century and strengthen our own
interpretation here at Plimoth
Plantation of the relationships between
the Wampanoag people and the English
colonists if you would like more
information about the curatorial
Department at Plimoth Plantation and
the collections that are stewarded by
the museum we invite you to explore the
learn tab at Plimoth.org or visit
Plimoth.org/collections if you
would like to view an online version of
a selection of the exhibition panels a
link can be found at Plimoth.org/
collections the exhibit will be

English: 
installed in the Shelby Cullum Davis
gallery until November of 2021. Thank You.

English: 
Shelby Cullom Davis Gallery until
November of 2021.
Thank you!
