The Antram-Gray House and Experimental Studies of Rat Middens

Deborah Pandolfini, Rhode Island College

Abstract

The Antrarn-Gray House is currently being utilized as the Visitor Center for the Roger Williams National Memorial (NPS) in Providence, Rhode Island. An architectural study of this building in 1980 led to the discovery of large rodent middens in the attic and walls. An archaeological study of these deposits yielded over 900 cultural (and non-cultural) materials and a body of data which compliments architectural and social histories of the house. Little information is available for this type of study, necessitating the use of experimental methods and data recovery techniques which are problematic.