An archaeological dig in Boston's historic Chinatown has been cut short after it turned up a 1980s music cassette, a toy dinosaur and other bric-a-brac.
The city's Archaeology Program tweeted Tuesday that it was wrapping up its three-week excavation at a vacant lot near the neighborhood's distinctive gateway because researchers have reached the water table, and it is unsafe to dig further. The dig had been expected to last until the fall.
Researchers have been humorously tweeting some of their recent "finds," including a cassette by Boston R&B group New Edition, a dinosaur toy , linoleum flooring and other items from the 1970s and 1980s.
City archaeologist Joe Bagley had hoped to turn up artifacts shedding new light on immigrants from China, Europe and the Middle East who came to the city from 1840 to 1980.
Just found a tape of @NewEdition’s self-titled 1984 second album. Found at the bottom of the 1980s fill behind 6 Hudson St. We think that we have reached the bottom of the fill, today.
— Boston Archaeology (@BostonArchaeo) July 24, 2019
.#digBOS #digChinatown #Boston #chinatown #archaeology #science #history pic.twitter.com/OCq7KITniq
Archaeologist don’t dig dinosaurs (we study people from the past), But occasionally we find dinosaur toys on our site including this one from around 1980 in the backyard fill of 6 Hudson St.
— Boston Archaeology (@BostonArchaeo) July 19, 2019
.#digBOS #digChinatown #Boston #chinatown #archaeology #science #history pic.twitter.com/obb0Y9sK2O
What is urban archaeology?
For the City's first dig in #Chinatown, we're going back in time to learn about the different immigrant communities that called 6 Hudson Street home. Visit the dig live (visitors welcome!) or follow along with @BostonArchaeo's live updates. https://t.co/whjVM2MtFy pic.twitter.com/CG4ZJ38VYg
— City of Boston (@CityOfBoston) July 25, 2019
