Project Lead Coffins: History from the Grave

The Calvert family were Catholics and founded the colony of Maryland in 1634 based on religious freedom. They were deposed, then reinstated, with the governorship changing several times. In 1678 Anne Calvert, wife of Philip Calvert, one of the principal Administrators of Maryland, died a painful death as a result of an abscessed broken leg and the medicine used in treating it. She was buried in a lead coffin in a vault by the church alter. Others in the Calvert family were later buried in the same vault.

The burials were lost until the 1990s when they were rediscovered by archaeologists and the coffins uncovered and opened to identify the remains buried there. There are only 5 lead coffins known to exist before 1700 and all five were studied. This program, “Project Lead Coffins,” is the story of that opening and the scientific investigation into discovering the identity of those buried.

Join us at the Floral City branch on Tuesday, September 13 at 10:00 AM for this presentation given by one of the lead team members involved with the Project Lead Coffins investigation. Can’t make it in September? There will be an additional presentation at the Coastal Region branch in Crystal River on Tuesday, October 25 at 1:00 PM. Registration is preferred for both events, but not necessary.

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