Preserving a Landmark: Salvage Archeology at the Kellum-Noble House
by Linda Gorski and Louis Aulbach, Houston Archeological Society

The Heritage Society Tea Room
Free for members, $5 for non-members

During foundation stabilization work at the 1847 Kellum-Noble House, preliminary excavation work inside the building uncovered broken pieces of plates and other household items. At the request of the Texas Historical Commission, the Houston Archeological Society (HAS) mobilized and set up a salvage archeology project to sift through much of the soil removed from below the house and recover artifacts. Under the direction of president Linda Gorski and vice-president Louis Aulbach, HAS members recovered more than 10,200 individual artifacts, from fragments of glass and ceramics including Texian Campaign Ware, to rare German marbles and coins dating from 1845.  Also recovered were many beautiful buttons made of shell, ceramic, wood, and bone and an intact slate pencil and ink bottle.  Following the salvage archeology project, HAS member and Texas Archeological Steward Beth Aucoin and her team archived these artifacts to THC standards and many of these items are now on display at the newly reopened Kellum Noble House. For this lecture Louis and Linda will discuss the salvage archeology project and show many photographs highlighting the recovered items that have enhanced our understanding of the historic Kellum-Noble House and how it fits into the rich early history of Houston.