The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History at UConn presents “Food and Diet at Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine 1790-1819,” a lecture by Dr. Sarah Sportman, Archaeological and Historical Services, Inc. The lecture will be held at the UConn Bookstore, 2nd Floor Conference/Meeting Room, 2075 Hillside Rd, Storrs, CT, Saturday, August 20 at 1 pm.
Beginning in 1773, the Old New-Gate copper mine was used as a prison. During the Revolutionary War, the prison housed criminals, Tories, and POWs. In 1790 it became one of the first state prisons in the United States and it operated in that capacity until 1827.
In 2013 a multi-phase archeological survey was conducted at this National Historic Landmark. The excavations revealed prison-era artifacts dated from 1790-1819, including over 1300 well-preserved animal bones. Analysis of the bones revealed vestiges of meals prepared and consumed by inmates and guards. Contextualized through the accounts of prison overseers, inmates, visitors, local newspapers, and historians, the bones shed light on the dietary conditions, food procurement system, and daily life at one of the nation’s oldest and most notorious prisons.
This program is free and advanced registration is not required. To contact the Museum, visit http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html or call 860-486-4460.
For more information, contact: Natural History Museum at 860.486.4460