Somerset County hosted an open house on June 6 at the Lord Stirling Manor Archaeological Site in Basking Ridge, NJ.  The manor was the home of William Alexander, Lord Stirling, an American general during the Revolutionary War. From February to April 1777, the manor was also the headquarters of General Nathanael Greene.

Today, the site contains the remains of Lord Stirling’s 1760s mansion as well remains of a 19^th century farmhouse and outbuildings.  A third structure, a 1920s Mongomery Ward catalog house, now sits on the foundations.

This year’s dig continued the exploration of the elaborate 18^th-century drainage system uncovered last year.  A new pit was opened in hope that an anomaly, found by ground-penetrating radar, would prove to be a cistern.

In front of the 18^th century foundation, archaeologists were digging for remains of the tower seen in front of the 19th century farmhouse in a 1909 postcard.  Artifacts found include bits of painted plaster that may be rubble from the original 18^th century mansion.

Another trench focused on finding the northwest corner of the original 1760s foundation and a later kitchen wing.  A possible brick walkway was also uncovered.

The dig is sponsored by Somerset County, Monmouth University, and Hunter Research.  The open houses will continue each Saturday in June from 10 am to 3 pm.  The Lord Stirling Manor Archaeological Site is located on Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge.

See also post from the 2025 Lord Stirling Dig.