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Massachusetts Historical Commission

Massachusetts Archaeology Month 2025

October 2025 marks the 33rd annual Massachusetts Archaeology Month. We will add events during the month to this page as they become available.

In the meantime, look into your local museums, historical societies, and other cultural institutions. Many of these organizations across Massachusetts offer online programs and content throughout the year.

You can also use our online content to explore archaeology in Massachusetts, such as the Archaeology Resources for Teachers, which includes links to museums, websites, books, and other resources.

Lead musket balls, British or American, recovered from the privy at the Three Cranes Tavern in Charlestown. The Three Cranes Tavern opened in 1635 and operated for more than 140 years. Archaeologists can only speculate as to the circumstances surrounding the deposition of these musket balls into the tavern’s privy. The musket balls may well have belonged to American Patriots meeting at the tavern to plan their next course of action in the American Revolution. Given the extent of the fighting in the area they may be associated with the battle of Bunker Hill or the retreat of the colonial forces upon the arrival of the British.

Lead musket balls, British or American, recovered from the privy at the Three Cranes Tavern in Charlestown. The Three Cranes Tavern opened in 1635 and operated for more than 140 years. Archaeologists can only speculate as to the circumstances surrounding the deposition of these musket balls into the tavern’s privy. The musket balls may well have belonged to American Patriots meeting at the tavern to plan their next course of action in the American Revolution. Given the extent of the fighting in the area they may be associated with the battle of Bunker Hill or the retreat of the colonial forces upon the arrival of the British.

Archaeology Month Posters

View some past Massachusetts Archaeology Month posters

Events

September - November

October 4, 2025

  • Archaeology Day at Minute Man
    • Minute Man National Historical Park
      • Parker’s Revenge tours: 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Meet at Minute Man Visitor Center
      • Elm Brook Hill tours: 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Meet at Hartwell Tavern
  • Archaeology at Houghton’s Pond
    • Visitor Center, 860 Hillside Street, Milton, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
    • Learn about the cycle of the seasons from the Indigenous perspective. Come on a fall plant walk with DCR staff, enjoy storytelling with books by Indigenous authors, practice archaeological screening, and join in hands on activities. All ages welcome. Free and open to the public.

October 5, 2025

  • Archaeology at Breakheart Reservation
    • Visitor Center, 177 Forest Street, Saugus, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
    • Learn about Archaeological practice and the long history of human occupation and land use within Breakheart Reservation. Learn about the significance of deer in Native societies and join in hands on activities. All ages welcome. Free and open to the public.

October 9, 2025

October 11, 2025

  • Walk through Brighton’s Market Street Burying Ground
    • 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Self-guided walk.

      Follow up by spending a spooky Saturday exploring the Market Street Burying Ground.

      The Allston-Brighton Historical Society will be opening the locked cemetery gates for the public to visit in person!

October 16, 2025

October 17, 2025

  • Terrestrial and Marine Cultural Resource Management in the Commonwealth: Views from the Land/Water Interfaces
    • Fall River Heritage State Park, Visitor Center, 200 Davol Street, Fall River, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
    • Join David Robinson, Director & Chief Archaeologist, Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources and Jonathan Patton, Staff Archaeologist, Office of Cultural Resources, Department of Conservation & Recreation for a presentation exploring how archaeologists protect the cultural heritage of southeastern Massachusetts and the importance of managing underwater archaeological resources. Recommended ages 15 and up. Free lecture, question and answer period and open to the public.
  • Archeology Walk of the Nauset Marsh Trail
    • Cape Cod National Seashore, Eastham
      • 1-3 p.m., Salt Pond Visitor Center. Join National Park Service Archaeologist Dan Zoto for a guided walk of the Nauset Marsh Trail to learn about the archaeology, geology, and history of the Nauset estuary. The program will include an approximate 20-minute terrace talk at the Salt Pond Visitor Center and a 1.5-hour trail walk. Topics will include Native American and historical period land use. The trail is 1.3 miles and classified as easy with some long steps, moderate grade, and an elevation change of 37 feet. The event is free. Rain or shine.
      • If the federal government remains shutdown, the event will be cancelled and rescheduled. Please check https://www.nps.gov/caco/ for updates.

October 18, 2025

  • ColonialFest
    • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., ticketed event (free of charge). Peak House, Medfield.
  • Archaeology at Great Falls Discovery Center
    • Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
    • Learn about the cycle of the seasons from the Indigenous perspective, traditional fishing methods along the Kwenitekw (Connecticut) River, help to weave a net, practice archaeological screening, take a photo with a mishoon (dugout canoe) and more! All ages welcome. Free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by the Nolumbeka Project.

October 22, 2025

October 24, 2025

October 25, 2025

  • Archaeology at Blackstone River Greenway
    • Visitor Center, 3 Paul Clancy Way, Worcester, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
    • Learn about the cycle of the seasons from the Indigenous perspective, and traditional fishing methods along the Kitticuck (Blackstone) River, help to weave a net, practice archaeological screening, take a photo with a mishoon (dugout canoe) and more! All ages welcome. Free and open to the public.

October 29, 2025

November 2, 2025

  • Archaeology at Borderland State Park
    • Visitor Center, 259 Massapoag Ave., North Easton, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    • Learn about the cycle of the seasons from the Indigenous perspective. Come on a walk of the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp at 1:15 p.m. with DCR staff and learn about its significance to the Indigenous communities, enjoy children’s books by Indigenous authors, practice archaeological screening, and engage in hands-on activities and more! All ages welcome. Free and open to the public.