UNDER THE ISLES OF SHOALS
Archaeology & Discovery on Smuttynose Island
The serene sloping lawn of Smuttynose Island is, in fact, a time machine. Only two buildings survive on this flat primitive spot, ten miles out to sea from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. But look deeper. The thin layers of soil that cling to the rocky island are thick with treasure. No, this is not the imaginary pirate gold of romantic lore. This is rich new data about our shared American past.
Native Americans hunted here 6,000 years ago. Hundreds of European fishermen salted and dried their prized Atlantic cod on these rocks in the dawning days of the American colonies. There was an ancient tavern here back when the Isles of Shoals were an important staging point for New England trade. The hardy fishing families who lived here were eventually displaced by Boston tourists visiting the Mid-Ocean House. But the first Shoals hotel has also disappeared, leaving only buried clues.
In just four years of an ongoing "dig" at the Isles of Shoals, Nathan Hamilton and his archaeology students have unearthed 250,000 artifacts. Those bones, stones, and fragments of human occupation tell volumes about life on a rock. And tiny buried shells may reveal secrets of climate change.
HISTORY/ARCHAEOLOGY/NEW ENGLAND
176 full color pages, 180 illustrations / Portsmouth Marine Society Press
Paperback
Native Americans hunted here 6,000 years ago. Hundreds of European fishermen salted and dried their prized Atlantic cod on these rocks in the dawning days of the American colonies. There was an ancient tavern here back when the Isles of Shoals were an important staging point for New England trade. The hardy fishing families who lived here were eventually displaced by Boston tourists visiting the Mid-Ocean House. But the first Shoals hotel has also disappeared, leaving only buried clues.
In just four years of an ongoing "dig" at the Isles of Shoals, Nathan Hamilton and his archaeology students have unearthed 250,000 artifacts. Those bones, stones, and fragments of human occupation tell volumes about life on a rock. And tiny buried shells may reveal secrets of climate change.
HISTORY/ARCHAEOLOGY/NEW ENGLAND
176 full color pages, 180 illustrations / Portsmouth Marine Society Press
Paperback
AUTHOR NOTES
As a longtime volunteer "steward" of Smuttynose Island and having grown up with an archaeologist brother, I wanted to see the results of this fascinating dig put into context and made readable especially for kids. The book was a whirlwind project, my third collaboration with co-designer Grace Peirce. I love the color, the square format, and our decision to go with a paperback and a "french flap" cover. Dave Murray shot the cover of my friend Bill Roy, his first hands modeling job. The book accompanied an exhibition at Discover Portsmouth and another at Ithaca College. I've been presenting a companion slideshow ever since to dozens of audiences across New England. You won't find this book in stores, so contact me or check Amazon.com and Discover Portsmouth for copies.
Back to MY BOOKS
As a longtime volunteer "steward" of Smuttynose Island and having grown up with an archaeologist brother, I wanted to see the results of this fascinating dig put into context and made readable especially for kids. The book was a whirlwind project, my third collaboration with co-designer Grace Peirce. I love the color, the square format, and our decision to go with a paperback and a "french flap" cover. Dave Murray shot the cover of my friend Bill Roy, his first hands modeling job. The book accompanied an exhibition at Discover Portsmouth and another at Ithaca College. I've been presenting a companion slideshow ever since to dozens of audiences across New England. You won't find this book in stores, so contact me or check Amazon.com and Discover Portsmouth for copies.
Back to MY BOOKS
