Session

About this Session

This panel will explore – through the lens of archaeology – the past, present and future of “The Buildings,” the former estate of Revolutionary War General William Alexander, also known as Lord Stirling. Owned by Somerset County and operated by the Somerset County Park Commission, this largely unheralded historic property is envisaged as a future major regional heritage tourism destination with a focus on late colonial and Revolutionary War-era archaeology and material culture. The panel will consider the site’s history and architecture, the results of archaeological excavations, and the role of Somerset County and its partners in promoting public engagement and academic opportunity through archaeological field schools and the management of archaeological collections. The County aims to use the Lord Stirling Manor Archaeological Site to highlight the life of one of the less celebrated but key figures of the American Revolution and tell the untold stories of the women, tradespeople and enslaved persons that supported him and his opulent estate. Moderating this dynamic conversation in archaeology, collections management, preservation, and planning for the future is Somerset County Deputy Director Melonie Marano, a champion of cultural and historic preservation in local government.

This session will consist of brief introductions, a presentation by each panelist, and a question-and-answer period. Dr. Richard Veit will present on the past excavations conducted by Dr. Alan Cooper in the 1980s, Dr. Richard Hunter will present on the current excavations taking place through our field school program, and Josephine Taranto will present on the future of the site. These three elements will create a complete picture of the project, its origins, and its goals. Each presentation will be about fifteen minutes, with a few moments for introductions, with about 25 minutes remaining for questions, answers, and discussion.

The site is located at 96 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge. Due to its proximity to the conference location, and with field school excavations anticipated to be underway in June, the team would like to propose a tour of the property during the conference. This tour would include an introduction to the site, inspection of the cellar of the house (containing substantial elements of what are interpreted as the original foundation of Lord Stirling’s Manor), active archaeological excavations, and an overview of our collections and artifact processing. The tour could last 30 to 45 minutes on site and perhaps be combined with a visit or visits to other Revolutionary War sites within easy reach of the conference location, such as Jockey Hollow or the Ford Mansion. The target audiences for these initiatives are county and municipal officials and staff, students, local residents and those interested in the development of community engagement through ongoing archaeological excavation and material culture analysis.