An Introduction to the Archeology of the Popham Colony
July 15, 2026 - 7pm
Bath Freight Shed
Ted South, PhD, Maine's First Ship Docent and Virginia Crew
What do archaeologists do exactly, and how do they do it? This talk provides a beginner’s guide to the archaeology of Sabino Head in Phippsburg, particularly the results of the Fort St. George dig (1994-2013), which resulted in the positive identification and exploration of the site of the Popham Colony (1607-8) and also produced important evidence of earlier seasonal occupation of the site by the Wabanaki over the previous 5,000 years. It is intended to provide useful background for the talk later in the summer by Arthur Spiess (Maine State Archaeologist).
This is the sixth lecture of eight in the 2026 Summer Lecture Series. The lectures will be held on Wednesday evenings at the Bath Freight Shed (27 Commercial St, Bath Maine). The recording will be available below and on YouTube shortly after the lecture.
The lectures are free, but if you consider them valuable, please donate to Maine’s First Ship in person or online.
Ted South: I grew up in Germany, where my parents taught in DOD dependent schools. After that I lived variously in Colorado (college), upstate New York (grad school), northern England and the Central African Republic; much of that time was spent with my fellow docent Frances. We then spent the next three decades in Western Mass, where I taught European history and material culture (archaeology, art & architecture).
We moved permanently to Bath in 2021 and fell in love with Maine’s First Ship (Frances took the plunge first). Docenting gives me a chance to express my ongoing enthusiasm for history and archaeology, but I find I also have just as much enthusiasm for crewing Virginia and giving deck tours despite my near-total lack of sailing experience. Sailing her is like taking a step back in time, which is something I’ve always been fascinated by.