Archaeology at the Uniacke Estate

	Archaeology Methods: Background Research
	An archaeology project does not begin in the field. As a matter of fact, there is a great deal of research which must be completed before a sod is lifted. Some of this preliminary research is outlined below with examples of how it was applied to the Uniacke archaeology project.

	Archival Research
	A number of primary and secondary historical references helped to direct the archaeology at the Uniacke Estate. Letters written by Uniacke about his time at the estate gave some insights into what was then a working farm. His probated will of 1830 was invaluable as it listed the contents of the hothouse upon his death which could then be compared to the artifacts found during the 1992 excavations. Since the estate remained in the family until it was acquired by the province in 1949, many of Uniacke's possessions remained, including his library. Many of his books about gardening and landscaping were without a doubt directly consulted and followed during the estate's construction.

	Oral History Research
	When the location of certain landscape features have seemingly disappeared without a trace, oral tradition may hold valuable clues. The exact location of the haha wall, for example, was not known in 1992. The family tradition, however, referred to one area as the haha long after the wall had been buried. This oral tradition, combined with physical evidence, allowed a more efficient archaeological testing program to be designed in an effort to locate the haha. The archaeological work confirmed the veracity of the family tradition.

	Material Culture Studies
	Many of the original contents of the house have remained there. Some of the more noteable items include eleven pieces of Regency furniture by London cabinet-maker George Adams and pieces of a pearlware dinner service purchased by Uniacke. The 1830 inventory and the present contents of the house provide a sample with which to compare artifacts recovered during archaeological excavation. These complemetary sources give a much better idea of what the house contained in 1830 than if they were considered on their own.