Artifacts by Century

Artifacts found in the yard can be grouped into the various centuries. While overlap exists between the centuries, this segmentation of artifacts allows for an understanding of how student life at the university changed over time, from 1636 to present day.

Analysis of the various centuries in the yard can be seen through the stratigraphy in the soil, as shown by the image on the left. These are the layers of soil that represent different periods in time; using these levels we can date artifacts to eras in Harvard's History by noting in which "layer" they are found. The left image depicts the stratigraphy of a 2018 unit, and the centuries are hi-lighted in different colors.

17th Century (1636-1699): There are no above-ground remains of the University’s original buildings. There are no extant maps or drawings from the earliest years of Harvard; rather, knowledge of these spaces is informed by the archival record and archaeological surveys in Harvard Yard.

18th Century (1700-1899): During the next century, support for Puritan goals diminished in the Colony overall. The Harvard curriculum shifted towards more scientific learning, critical thinking, and reason as forwarded by the Enlightenment movement, while still emphasizing rhetorical principles and rote learning.  

19th Century (1800-1899): In the 19th century, Harvard was “privatized” and the number and variety of classes multiplied, the lecture system supplanted recitation, and students were permitted a free choice of courses.