About Us
The New England African American Archaeology Laboratory (NEAAAL) is dedicated to uncovering and sharing the rich history of Black life in New England through archaeological research. Based at UMass Boston, we provide anthropology students with hands-on training in the study and curation of artifacts that document free Black communities in Massachusetts during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Founded in 2017 by Dr. Nedra Lee, NEAAAL was established to preserve and research artifacts from the Nantucket African Meeting House excavations. Under her leadership, the lab’s work has expanded to include reconstructing the history of Nantucket’s earliest free Black community, New Guinea. Committed to ethical stewardship and historical preservation, NEAAAL continues to advance research and education in African Diaspora archaeology.
Our Team.
The New England African American Archaeology Lab is run by Dr. Nedra Lee, Associate Professor in UMass Boston's Anthropology department. Dr. Lee works with a group of dedicated graduate students in the Historical Archaeology Masters program at UMass Boston.
Dr. Nedra Lee
Associate Professor
Kristen M. Delatour
Graduate Student
Enoch Sey Koomson
Graduate Student
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Claire Ross
Graduate Student
Samantha Side
Graduate Student
Ella T. Virkler
Graduate Student
Tess Ostoyich
Graduate Student
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Micaela Pardue
Graduate Student
Alexandria Misick
Graduate Student
Nantucket's Free-Black Community: Lesson Plan for History Teachers
In this free lesson plan, students will learn about the free-Black community of New Guinea, Nantucket, MA. This lesson plan includes all materials needed and will encourage students to think like historical archaeologists! Click the button below to download.
Nantucket Story Map
NEAAAL graduate research assistants have worked to create an interactive Story Map using Esri GIS online software to illustrate the history of the Nantucket African descended community. The Story Map will incorporate the archaeological and documentary source research that has been done by professional and graduate student archaeologists affiliated with the Fiske Center for Archaeological Research
Contact Us
Address
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
Contact
Questions? Email Dr. Lee