Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7273-2739

Document Type

Research Report

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

The Fiske Center for Archaeological Research at UMass Boston engaged in a multi-season examination of the formal landscape north of the mansion house at Gore Place in Waltham and Watertown, Massachusetts. The archeological work consisted of a geophysical survey of the whole area in the fall of 2019 and excavation in the summer of 2021 and 2022 focusing on the southeast corner of the formal garden and the eastern wing of the fruit wall. Excavation units covered just over 63 sq m. The excavations identified large areas where Gore period features were preserved. In the southeast corner most units were covered with preserved features from the Gore period (ca. 1800-1830). These features, at 30 cm (< 12 inches) below the surface, are mostly thin soil stains, representing locations where individual plants, plant beds, or posts were dug through the enriched topsoil and into the underlying subsoil. The rows of plants run on a consistent NW to SE orientation, in multiple rows with different sized plants. Along the south edge of the excavation area are long, linear soil stains that are remains of the garden border; these appear at two stratigraphic levels and two different orientations indicating changes in the layout of the garden. Outside of the area that was planted, remains of trenches dug to turn and prepare the soil are visible. Since most of these features are clear and well defined, this seems to represent a single, planned planting of an ornamental perennial garden with a border, possibly of hedges, and rows of small and large plants. These plantings cover an extensive area, extending at least 7 m (23 ft) from the southern boundary, indicating the scale of the Gores’ formal landscape. We also excavated units at the eastern and western edges of the enclosure. The unit near the eastern edge did not locate any features, but the units on the western edge located the apparent western edge of plantings. Although the features in this area are a little less clear, they seem to follow the same orientation as those in the southeast corner. Two trenches investigated the eastern wing of the fruit wall and grapery. Deposits in this area are preserved beginning at 45 cm (18 inches) below the surface. At the point at which we crossed it, 12 courses of brick are preserved as part of the fruit wall. These would have sat below the Gore era surface, supporting a tall wall above grade. There are specialized deposits on both sides of the eastern wing of the fruit wall: a large, charcoal rich, compost pit on the north (back) side and a prepared planting bed on the south side, possibly for growing grapes. The final section of the report assembles information about other period gardens in the region and also studies Gore’s composting and soil enrichment practices. This report covers all seasons of work on the formal garden and supersedes the interim report on the 2021 season. While the technical descriptions in the interim report are still correct, the interpretation of the features has changed in some cases.

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