A8 SundAy, July 10, 2016Burlington County timeS

newS

liSA ryAnstaff writer

MEDFORD — Volun-teers are spending part of the summer digging into the past at the former home of the Dr. James Still, hoping to unearth more about the “Black Doctor of the Pines.”

The exca-vation begin last month at 209 Church Road, where the legendary physician’s home stood until 1932, and will wrap up Friday. Doctoral candidate Marc Lorenc, of Garfield, is leading the effort after learn-ing of the Medford Histori-cal Society’s Dr. James Still Historic Site Education Center, which is located near the home and dig site, dur-ing a master’s program at Monmouth University.

The center provides information on Still’s life and other local history. Still was born to former slaves in 1812. The Shamong native, who died in 1882, became a mostly self-taught physician, Medford landowner, and one of Burlington County’s rich-est men. He treated patients, both black and white, with herbal and homeopathic remedies.

Thinking a Still-focused archaeological project would be a good fit for the Educa-tion Center, Lorenc pro-posed digging into the past − literally.

After three years of prep-aration, the dig has begun, yielding parts of the home’s architecture, among other things. Lorenc sifted dirt Thursday and found a shard of pottery, a not-uncommon artifact on the site. He was joined by volunteers who chatted as they dug into the earth at the historic site, working under tents in an attempt to beat the heat.

Lorenc said such find-ings could provide a richer picture of Still’s life, as well as the lives of Still family members whose stories have gone undocumented.

“For me, archaeology has always been about memory,” he said.

To Lorenc, the ground represents what society lets get buried and forgotten.

He said archaeology is political: historical records have gaps and biases. In con-trast, artifacts challenge us to think about how the past has shaped the present, and how stories of the former influence our perceptions of the latter.

Lorenc hopes the project will not only challenge peo-ple’s perspectives, but also increase awareness of the

Historical Society’s efforts to restore the doctor’s former office.

As Lorenc researched Still, he noticed people using the doctor’s hard work and resulting success as an inspiration or example. He felt that by investigat-ing that legacy, he could also examine the American Dream narrative, something he finds fascinating because of his experience as a first-generation Polish-American.

He is pursuing a doctor-ate in anthropology, specifi-cally historical archaeology,

at the University of Massa-chusetts-Amherst. This dig is his dissertation.

Volunteers work full- or part-time under his instruc-tion. The site is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Archaeological field-work is typically expensive, but Still project participa-tion is free. Lorenc hopes archaeology will become more diverse with increased accessibility.

On Thursday, Lorenc taught volunteers excava-tion methods, and what they

could learn from the Earth: marbled soil indicated human activity during Still’s time, as though someone

dug and refilled a hole.Some volunteers, like

Shirley Rossi-Rivera, 54, joined the dig out of passion.

An archaeology enthusiast, the Florida resident wanted to make an excavation her vaca-tion and chose Lorenc’s dig.

Xavier McClean, 20, studies archaeology at the University of Arizona. Like several others, he heard about the dig through Facebook.

He said the project has been educational.

“Aside from just learning on the job ... I learned a lot about how involved the com-munity is,” McClean said.

Many of Thursday’s vol-unteers reside in Burlington County, and Lorenc said two descendants of Still −one of whom lives in Moore-stown− are participants.

Sharon Goodman, 69, learned about Still because of her background in nurs-ing and interest in holistic medicine. The Mount Holly resident heard about the exca-vation and offered her help.

Still’s land is the only state-owned African-Amer-ican historical site, and Lorenc believes his focus on community and diver-sity aligned with state goals. He said these factors likely helped secure a grant of about $12,000, which paid for tools and a pre-dig land examination.

Currently, the land is partitioned into a 30 by 30-meter grid. Excavators will continue digging next summer, hopefully reaching completion in July 2017.

For McClean, who has experienced Arizona dig sites, working locally is comfortable. The Burling-ton Township resident also enjoys learning the back-ground of nearby Medford.

“It’s like a hidden gem of New Jersey history,” he said.Lisa ryan: 609-871-8050; email: lryan@calkins.com; twitter: @Lisar2452

Unearthing history where Dr. Still lived

trACie VAn Auken/ for the BurLington County timesmarc Lorenc (left) digs thursday with Xavier mcClean and Linda wills at the historical site

on Church road in medford. Volunteers have been finding artifacts like nails (below left) at the property where still’s home and practice once stood.

Excavating at the site where the legendary doctor lived, which began in June, has started to reveal relics of the past

http://bit.ly/1ZebCwh

HADDONFIELD FAMILY DENTISTRYDR. HAROLD MERTZ & ASSOC.

Kings Hwy. & Haddon Ave.856-429-5612

MARLTON DENTAL CENTER DRS. CHAO, BUONGIOVANNI & ASSOCIATES

Rt. 70 East & Plymouth Drive856-983-1133

www.primadentsmile.com

Four Convenient Locations to Serve You!!!

AUDUBON FAMILY DENTISTRYDR. JAMES M. WIENER & ASSOC.

290 S. White Horse Pike856-547-7775

COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY DENTISTRYDR. MICHAEL HONRYCHS & ASSOC.

180 Route 73 N. Ste 1202856-753-2900

Denture Lab On PremisesDENTURES REPAIRED/REFITTED WHILE YOU WAIT

IN MARLTON, OR SAME DAY IN AUDUBON or HADDONFIELD

NO INSURANCE - SAVE MONEY!

Only $229 Per Year!Save Up To 25% OFF Regular Fees!

PRIMADENT DENTAL PLAN

DENTURESSUMMERSPECIAL

Full Dentures $799 ea. (Regularly $1155.00)

Expires 8/5/16

All Dental Insurance AcceptedIncluding NJ State Sponsored Plans.

Welcome New Patients!Exam, X-Rays &

(New Patients Only!)

$7999Cleaning (Regularly $176.00) Exp. 8/5/16

Tires on Sale

$120$120

The Dr. James Still Herbal Tea Co. LLC seeks to provide herbal teas and blends that are the fi nest quality of pure and natural ingredients, the way nature and Dr. James Still intended. We are family-owned. We seek to provide better-tasting and healthier teas that will invigorate the mind, body and soul.

Help us reach our goal to restore the Dr. James Still Historic Medical Offi ce located at 209 Church Rd., Medford, NJ.

10% of all product sales will go directly to NJDEP. $10,000 USD is our goal! (Must go to NJDEP for building project only per NJDEP)

We would like to thank you in advance for your support and purchase.

Call (856) 247-7370 and press #2 to see if you qualify.

Most insurances are accepted.

Lung CancerScreenings

www.virtua.org

Screening locations:Mount Holly • Voorhees • Marlton