We are fortunate to have many public gardens in the Philadelphia region that are wonderful places to visit in all seasons. During these uncertain times, gardens serve as a peaceful respite from the concerns of everyday life. This expanded issue of Expedition focuses on local gardens and the archaeological research that provides The Editor at Chanticleer Garden in Wayne, Pennsylvania. a better understanding of the 17th- through 19th-century history of these special places. Many thanks to Dr. Chantel White, CAAM Teaching Specialist for Archaeobotany and Guest Editor, who worked closely with me to determine the content and complete the production of this issue. We hope you will visit the gardens described here and see for yourself the extant evidence of early gardens in our area. The best way to read this issue is to start with Chantel’s introductory article, which describes the history of gardens in Philadelphia and includes a brief description of the articles that follow.
Goodbye For Now
After more than 11 years, I will end my tenure as Editor of Expedition with this issue. I will continue with the Museum as a Consulting Scholar and as co-curator of the 2021 exhibition The Stories We Wear. My immediate plans are to finish a book on Minoan jewelry, the subject of my 2008 Penn dissertation, and to return to the field to excavate and conduct research. When the pandemic ends, I hope to find myself at work on a project in Greece or Turkey or perhaps a place I have never been.
Parting Thoughts
I am fortunate to have been affiliated with the Penn Museum, an internationally recognized museum with a world-class collection. One hundred years from now, the Penn Museum will still be part of Philadelphia’s cultural landscape, and visitors not yet born will walk the galleries and remark on the timeless beauty of the Ram in the Thicket or Queen Puabi’s jewelry. We owe it to our Museum’s founders and those cultures we represent to maintain and interpret the collection in our care, and to bring our message to a wide audience. I am honored to have been part of that tradition.
JANE HICKMAN, PH.D.
EDITOR