Shop & save on bulk holiday gifting
Ships from
FindAnyBook
FindAnyBook
Ships from
FindAnyBook
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. You may receive a partial or no refund on used, damaged or materially different returns.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Joseph M. Bagley
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

A History of Boston in 50 Artifacts Paperback – April 12, 2016

by Joseph M. Bagley (Author)

Purchase options and add-ons

History is right under our feet; we just need to dig a little to find it. Though not the most popular construction project, Boston’s Big Dig has contributed more to our understanding and appreciation of the city’s archaeological history than any other recent event. Joseph M. Bagley, city archaeologist of Boston, uncovers a fascinating hodgepodge of history―from ancient fishing grounds to Jazz Age red-light districts―that will surprise and delight even longtime residents. Each artifact is shown in full color and accompanied by description of the item’s significance to its site location and the larger history of the city. From cannonballs to drinking cups and from ancient spears to chinaware, A History of Boston in 50 Artifacts offers a unique and accessible introduction to Boston’s history and physical culture while revealing the ways objects can offer a tantalizing entrée into our past. Packed with vivid descriptions and art, this lively history of Boston will appeal to all manner of readers, locals and visitors alike.
Read more
  Report an issue with this product or seller
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    232 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University Press of New England
  4. Publication date
    April 12, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    7 x 0.6 x 10 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1611687829
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1611687828
Next slide of product details
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Bagley is wry and witty . . . demonstrating superior deductive skills and rousing the public to see the value of their past around them.”—New Boston Post

"City archaeologist Joseph Bagley has a special way of bringing Boston's evolution to life. In A History of Boston in 50 Objects, Bagley delivers a tangible take on our past through a collection of stunning portraits of things that have been unearthed here."—Chris Sweeney, Boston Magazine

“The author’s engaging writing style keeps the pages turning. For undergraduates, this book provides an introduction to archaeology's unfolding of history. Although not a scholarly work, it does contain notes and a useful bibliography and belongs in the collections of universities and colleges as well as public libraries. . . . Recommended.”—Choice

Review

“This is a great book. Joe Bagley cuts through layers of the prevailing historical narrative to bring real people—and animals—back to life. A Massachusett hunting for deer on the Common, a child hiding a metal cop and robber toy in a yard outside an orphanage, a worshipper at a Beacon Hill synagogue, a horse pulling a Metropolitan Horse Railroad car out of a Roxbury station, a cat buried outside a Charlestown tavern—these are the characters of history. A skilled archaeologist, Bagley has unearthed many of these objects. But with the keen eye of a detective and the verve of a novelist, he has told their stories and the story of the city around them. Don’t read this book on the T—you will miss your stop!” (Robert Allison, professor and chair of the history department, Suffolk University)

“In this highly readable and entertaining volume, Joseph Bagley introduces us to fifty key artifacts that once belonged to Boston’s original residents—native Americans, colonial settlers, and people of various ages, classes, races, and ethnic backgrounds. Bagley elicits their stories from the smallest of items that passed through their hands before coming to rest in the soils beneath contemporary Boston.” (Mary C. Beaudry, Boston University)

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University Press of New England
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 12, 2016
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 232 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1611687829
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1611687828
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.6 x 10 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #2,614,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Joseph M. Bagley

Joseph M. Bagley

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Joseph (Joe) Bagley has been the City Archaeologist of Boston since 2011. Prior to this position, he worked for several private archaeology firms and the Massachusetts State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Joe has conducted archaeological excavations on hundreds of Native American and Historic archaeological sites from Maine to Florida. He lives with his wife, also an archaeologist, and his dog in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston.