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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Monshipour Participates in Archaeological Field Work


Shahin Monshipour spent a week in archaeological field work at the Wye House, the former plantation of Edward Lloyd on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay.

Monshipour took a graduate level course through the University of Maryland’s department of Anthropology last year and was involved in excavating at “Long Green” where Frederick Douglass was enslaved as a boy. “Long Green” is described in his autobiography, My Bondage, My Freedom.

The extensive excavation, which was started in summer 2006 under the supervision of Dr. Mark Leone of UM, has uncovered  rich archaeological deposits, the complete foundation of a slave quarters as well as parts of foundations of two other structures. Dr. Leone invited Shahin to Maryland this summer to revisit the unit (the site of the slaves’ overseer cottage) that she worked on last year. She assisted with the last stage of this year’s deeper level excavations and related ethnographic analysis and interpretations.

Monshipour considers her work on this project one of the “most meaningful, interesting and educationally enriching experiences" in her life.

Janet Ekis
College and Community Relations
07/15/2009