Student Profile: Future Archeologist
The Main Street Museum in White River Junction, VT, opened an unusual exhibit on Friday, January 6, 2023. “Relic Hunter” Abraham Dunne ‘26, began exploring his family’s property in Hartland, VT, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. His first find, a pocket knife found in his family’s field, led to more persistent efforts to find objects. Using a keen eye, metal detector, or “dump digging” Dunne began collecting his finds.
Fortunately for us, White River Junction’s Main Street Museum has a new program called One Case Curation, which invites young people to use the space for three months. Dunne already had a relationship with many of the people at the museum so he was invited to be the first exhibitor. He used this opportunity to curate his collection, selecting the items he thought would tell a story to share with the community.
The opening event featured music and narration, but the exhibit will continue through the end of March. Everything in the case has been identified and at least roughly dated. Dunne has written descriptions for each item so those who are curious should make their way to Main Street Museum and learn more about what he has found and what each item says about the Upper Valley where we live.
Dunne has many other objects he has found over the years. Perhaps there will be a follow-up exhibit. Regardless, his discoveries have inspired him to be an archeologist one day. In the meantime, happy hunting, Abe!
The mission of The Sharon Academy is to nurture intelligent, independent, and creative thinking in a small school community, awakening students to their immense potential and the difference they can make in the world