LEWISTON, Maine -- Emerson "Tad" Baker, assistant professor of history at Salem State College and author of three books on early history and archeology of New England, will discuss "The Archeology of 1690: Excavating King William's War on the Maine Frontier" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, in Chase Hall Lounge, Bates College. The public is invited to attend free of charge.

Providing a detailed view of life on the Maine frontier in the late 17th century, Baker will discuss the results of his excavations at three Maine sites, all destroyed at the outbreak of King William's War in 1690. He also will discuss the Elizabeth & Mary, a ship of New England militia men that wrecked during Sir William Phips' 1690 attack on Quebec. Baker serves as a consultant for the excavation of the shipwreck, a project that will be featured in a summer 2000 issue of National Geographic magazine.

With John G. Reid, Baker co-authored "The New England Knight: Sir William Phips, 1651-1695" (University of Toronto Press, 1998). He has directed a series of excavations on 17th-century New England sites ranging from the 1634 governor's mansion to fishermen's shacks. Baker, a board member of the Maine Humanities Council and the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, serves as a consultant to National Geographic, Parks Canada and Plimoth Plantation. A 1980 graduate of Bates College, Baker received his master's degree from the University of Maine and his Ph.D. from the College of William and Mary.