Abbott Farm National Historic Landmark

Trenton, New Jersey

Fascination with the past is present in all of us, and for some it becomes an avocation or perhaps even a career. In the nineteenth century, people interested in archaeology were known as antiquarians, because their research focused on antiquities or ancient objects. One nineteenth century antiquarian was Charles Conrad Abbott, whose archaeological investigations in the vicinity of his farm just south of Trenton New Jersey played a major role in the development of American archaeology in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. In one of those weird twists of fate, Dr. Abbott's farm Three Beeches, now a National Historic Landmark, became the focus of archaeological investigations during the late 20th century, conducted in advance of construction work for the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Research on Abbott's Farm included investigations at numerous archaeological sites from several periods of history and prehistory of the central Delaware River Valley. Sites such as Gropp's Lake and Lister examined the Late Archaic between 8000 and 2000 BC; Carney Rose and White Horse West examined Woodland period sites between 2000 BC and AD 1620; and sites such as the Abbottville and Tindall/Pearson Farmsteads examined Colonial occupation during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Tindall Pearson Colonial Plantation

This extensive research resulted in a large number of reports; including the one linked here, a report summarizing the investigations called Abbott Farm National Historic Landmark.