Backyard Archaeology in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia
Join us in Chestnut Hill for “Backyard Archaeology in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia,” an engaging talk that uncovers how everyday gardens, yards, and back lots can preserve traces of the neighborhood’s past. Set against the backdrop of one of Philadelphia’s most historic and carefully preserved communities, this presentation shows how bottles, bricks, features, and other backyard finds connect today’s residents to centuries of local history.
Drawing on Chestnut Hill’s development from early settlement through its designation as a historic district, the talk demonstrates how small-scale archaeological investigation in domestic spaces can reveal stories of households, land use, and neighborhood change that rarely appear in written records. Designed for homeowners, history enthusiasts, and neighbors alike, “Backyard Archaeology in Chestnut Hill” offers practical insight into recognizing and interpreting artifacts underfoot—and invites participants to see their own properties as part of Philadelphia’s layered archaeological landscape.
Bio: Gregory D. Lattanzi is currently Associate Professor at Temple University and the Assistant Curator of the Temple Anthropology Laboratory and Museum. He recently retired from the New Jersey State Museum, where he served as Curator for the Bureau of Archaeology & Ethnography and as the New Jersey State Archaeologist. He attended the State University of New York at Binghamton and, in 1995, received a Master’s degree from Hunter College. In 2013, while at the NJ State Museum, Dr. Lattanzi received his Ph.D. from Temple University, Philadelphia. He continues his research on Middle Atlantic archaeology, social complexity, pottery analysis, and pre-contact copper use. He has published numerous articles and given public presentations at national, state, and local venues.
