Archaeological Objects
ca. 1700s-1920s
Abiel Smith School Digital Catalog
ABS.0177.007
ABS.0191.008
ABS.0192.013
ABS.0192.015
ABS.0201.004
Northeast Museum Services Center, National Park Service
Archaeologists at the Abiel Smith School found many marbles, including this selection of decorative marbles made out of glass, porcelain, or ceramics. Children likely brought these marbles with them to school so they could play a variety of games in their free time. Teachers may have also used marbles to help students learn arithmetic.*
*Information from “Abiel Smith School Digital Catalog” Northeast Museum Services Center, NPS
Questions to Consider
- What do these marbles tell us of the children who played with them?
- What insight do we gain from learning about students’ social life at the Abiel Smith School?
- If archaeologists conducted a dig around your school, what game pieces might they find?
