MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

You asked for it, folks. For those who wondered when and where I will be presenting my newest NH Humanities talk about the Isles of Shoals, here's the upcoming schedule, so far. Get ready for 225 fast-paced slides on the history and mystery uncovered in years of archaeological study at the Shoals. (See the schedule below for 2013) 

LECTURE SUMMARY

Treasure from the Isles of Shoals:
How New Archaeology is Changing Old History  

There is treasure here but not the pirate kind. Scientific “digs” on Smuttynose Island are changing New England history. Archaeologist Nathan Hamilton has unearthed 300,000 artifacts to date on this largely uninhabited rock at the Isles of Shoals. Evidence proves prehistoric Native Americans hunted New Hampshire’s only offshore islands 6,000 years ago. Hundreds of European fishermen split, salted, and dried valuable Atlantic cod here from the 1620s. “King Haley” ruled a survivalist kingdom here before Thomas Laighton struck tourist gold when his family took over the region’s first hotel on Smuttynose. Laighton’s daughter Celia Thaxter spun poetic tales of ghosts and pirates. J. Dennis Robinson, a longtime Smuttynose steward, explores the truth behind the romantic legends of Gosport Harbor in this colorful show-and-tell presentation. 

 UPCOMING SHOALS LECTURES BY JDR 

August 1  
7pm 
New Durham, NH   
Contact: Max Wirestone   603-859-2201 
Location: New Durham Public Library, 2 Old Bay Rd., New Durham

August 4 
7 pm
Star Island, NH   
Oceanic Hotel, Isles of Shoals  

August 13
7pm
Hampstead, NH 
Contact: Hampstead Public Library   603-329-6411   

August 15
7 pm
Bedford, NH 
Contact: Bedford Public Library   603-472-2300   
Location: Bedford Public Library, 3 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford

September 16
6:30 pm
Groveland, MA 
Contact: 978-372-1732 
Location: Langley-Adams Library 
185 Main Street, Groveland, MA  01834   

September 17
7 pm  
Newfields, NH 
Contact: Paul Memorial Library   603-778-8169  
Location: Paul Memorial Library, 76 Main St., Newfields  

September 24
6:30 pm
Greenland, NH 
Contact: Weeks Public Library   436-8548  
Location: Weeks Public Library, 36 Post Road, Greenland

October 9
7pm
Henniker, NH 
Contact: Tucker Free Library   603-428-3471 
Location: Tucker Free Library, 31 Western Ave., Henniker 

April 10, 2014
Rochester, NH
Location: Rochester Historical Society

April 22, 2014
5:30pm
West End Theater, Portsmouth, NH

Dates and times may change without notice, so always check with the venue by phone or web site before attending any lectures. This is a working list.