]> mi2000-27 Guide to the Middlesex County Archaeological Digs and Course Records, 1976 - 1983 Processed by: Anna Martin; machine-readable finding aid created by: Valerie Gillispie &hdrsca;

© 2008 Wesleyan University. All Rights Reserved.

 Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: July 2008 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS Guide to the Middlesex County Archaeological Digs and Course Records, 1976 - 1983 Special Collections & ArchivesWesleyan University Middletown, CT, USA

© 2008 Wesleyan University. All Rights Reserved.

 Descriptive Summary Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.) Middlesex County Archaeological Digs and Course Records, 1976 - 1983 2000-27 Material in English 2.5 4 For current information on the location of these materials, please consult Special Collections & Archives staff. In the spring of 1974, Professor Stephen Dyson of the Wesleyan University Classics Department took his Introduction to Archaeology Class on a preliminary excavation in Middlefield, Connecticut. This was a test to see if there was potential for an archaeology class based on fieldwork. Since the success at the first excavation, Wesleyan has continued to take its students on excavations within Middlesex County, Connecticut. The Middlesex County Archaeological Digs and Course Records were compiled by Stephen Dyson documenting his archaeology labs conducted in the field and courses focusing on local sites. It includes student essays, student field sheets, student lab inventories, grant proposals, Connecticut Historical Commission Inventory sheets for sites in the Middlesex area, and photos of mid-19th century topographic and housing maps of Middletown, Middlefield, and Cromwell. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

 Copyright Notice

Copyright for Official University records is held by Wesleyan University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Middlesex County Archaeological Digs and Course Records, Collection #2000-27, Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA.

 Acquisitions Information

Transferred from Doug Charles, Anthropology/Archaeology Program/Museum Coordinator, in June 2000.

 Processing Information

Processed by Anna Martin, July 2008

Encoded by Valerie Gillispie, July 2008

 Historical Note

In spring 1974, Professor Stephen Dyson of the Classics Department took his Introduction to Archaeology Class on a preliminary excavation in Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, Connecticut. This was a test to see if there was potential for an archaeology class based on fieldwork. The excavation was successful and archaeology classes continued to visit sites in Connecticut, particularly within Middlesex County.

The first time Wesleyan did a European excavation was in 1969 when it joined with Brown University in Buccino, Italy to excavate Roman villas. Later, in 1974, Dyson took a group of students to the town of Cosa, Italy for a dig. In 1982, Professor Stephen White of history and medieval studies and Clark Maines of art history coordinated with Dyson to take a Wesleyan crew to Soissons in France to study the Augustinian abbey of Saint-Jean-des-Vignes. These trips occurred during the summer and often times they would return for several consecutive summers.

As of 2008, the archaeology program continues conduct excavation labs within Middlesex county.

Collection Overview

This Middlesex County Archaeological Digs Records were compiled by Stephen Dyson. They document his archaeology labs conducted in the field and courses focusing on local Connecticut sites. It includes student essays, student field sheets, student lab inventories, grant proposals, Connecticut Historical Commission Inventory sheets for sites in the Middlesex area, and photos of mid-19th century topographic and housing maps of the towns of Middletown, Middlefield, and Cromwell, Connecticut.

There is a 1977 report written by Stephen Dyson (Box 1, Folder 10) which reviews the findings and the importance of the class after their first three years. He wrote about the Magill House, their second site of excavation, and the conclusions that were made about the wealthy Captain Magill of the 19th century. After their third excavation at Kelly's Pet Store, formerly known as Doc Hall's House, he was able to compare the different life styles of the two families. The Hall House residents lived a more reserved life and preferred the pipe over drink. The class concluded that the Magill House was full of luxuries through analysis of pottery found during the excavation. Dyson wrote that, with the success of his class excavating the Middlesex County area, it would soon include the community and start a program with children from the community.

 Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Dyson, Stephen L. Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)--Faculty. Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)--Students. Archaeology--Connecticut. Excavations (Archaeology)--Connecticut. Archaeology--Study and teaching--United States. Archaeology--Research--United States. Middlesex County (Conn.)--History. Middletown (Conn.)--History. Cromwell (Conn.)--History. Middlefield (Conn. : Town)--History. Photographs. Connecticut Historical Commission. Detailed Description of the Collection Materials from Class Digs 11 Contract Maps 12 Cromwell- Contract 13 Haddam Survey 14 Middletown - Probate Xeroxes 15 Northford - Warham Williams House 16 Norwalk - Contract 17 Class Forms 18 Photos 19 Student Papers 110 1977 Evaluation by Stephen Dyson and Supplementary Information 21 Danforth - Field Sheets, 1979 22 Hall House - Field Sheets, 1976-1977 23 Hall House - Lab Inventories, 1976-1977 24 Magill House - Pottery 25 Metro South - Field Sheets, 1978 26 South Mayd - Field Sheets, 1977 27 South Mayd - Site Drawings, 1977 28 Summer Street - Field Sheets, 1985 White Eagle Café 29 Contract 210 Field Sheets 211 Lab Inventory 212 Vessel Inventory Sheets, 1981 Connecticut Historical Commission Survey 31 Phase I & II Grant Application 32 Accounting - Wesleyan Survey, 1978 33 Correspondence Sent 34 Correspondence Received 35 Final Report 36 1978 Cromwell Inventory Forms 37 1978 East Hampton Inventory Forms 38 1978 Haddam Inventory Forms 39 1978 Middletown/Middlefield Inventory Forms 310 1978 Portland Inventory Forms Oversize materials 4 Photographic reproductions of mid-19th century topographic and housing maps of Middletown, Middlefield, and Cromwell