Morris Arboretum’s Lecture Series Continues this Winter with Dr. Chantel White, The Past Preserved: An Exploration of Plants and Archaeology.
Morris Arboretum’s Lecture Series continues this winter with fascinating topics that are about more than gardening, all with a common thread that connects us to our natural, green world. On Wednesday, February 13 at 2pm, join Dr. Chantel White, Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials at the University of Pennsylvania, for her talk, The Past Preserved: An Exploration of Plants and Archaeology.
From Bronze Age palaces to humble dwellings, most archaeological sites contain the remains of plants preserved within their floors and features. Botanical remains can provide valuable information about food practices in past societies, from daily meals to special feasting events, as well as agriculture and trade networks. Through the microscopic study of seeds and wood, archaeologists are often able to reconstruct the lives and health of ancient populations. Dr. White, Archaeobotanist at the Penn Museum, currently conducts research projects at Lechaion, the Roman port of Corinth in Greece, and much closer to home at Bartram’s Garden in Philadelphia. She will discuss how botanical remains have been preserved at these archaeological sites and how plants are helping us understand daily life in a coastal Roman village more than 1,500 years ago. She will also discuss the plant remains recently studied from Bartram’s eighteenth-century home that provide intriguing evidence for early garden activities in historical Philadelphia.
Lectures are supported in part by the Klein Lecture Endowment given in memory of Dr. William M. Klein who served from 1977-1990 as the Arboretum’s first full-time director; the Laura L. Barnes Lecture Endowment of The Philadelphia Foundation, given in memory of Laura Barnes by students and alumni of her school of horticulture; and the Byron Lukens Lecture Endowment, given in memory of educator and Arboretum volunteer, Byron Lukens and his wife Elizabeth.
Join Morris Arboretum for this engaging talk followed by a reception with refreshments at the Widener Visitor Center. The cost for this lecture is $15 for Arboretum members and $20 for non-members, which includes admission to the garden for the talk. Advanced registration and payment are required. Please call 215-247-5777, ext. 125 or http://bit.ly/morrislectures to make your reservation.
Morris Arboretum is a 92-acre horticultural display garden that features a spectacular collection of mature trees in a beautiful and colorful landscape. The official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, effective 1988, Morris Arboretum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and accredited by the American Association of Museums. For more information, visit: www.morrisarboretum.org
Photo Credit: Courtesy, Dr. Chantel White
Photo Caption: On Wednesday, February 13 at 2pm, Morris Arboretum presents a lecture by Dr. Chantel White, Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials at the University of Pennsylvania, The Past Preserved: An Exploration of Plants and Archaeology. The cost for this lecture is $15 for Arboretum members and $20 for non-members, which includes a reception with refreshments. Advanced registration and payment are required. Please call 215-247-5777, ext. 1156 or http://bit.ly/morrislectures to make your reservation.