Headshot of Joe Bagley

Joe Bagley

City Archaeologist

City of Boston

Joe Bagley is Boston’s City Archaeologist and staff of the Boston Landmarks Commission in the city’s Environment Department. In his role, Joe reviews projects on designated Boston Landmarks and provides professional reviews of archaeological potential on projects throughout the city. Joe conducts excavations on Boston archaeological sites, provides public outreach and engagement opportunities, and oversees the operations of the City of Boston Archaeology Program and Laboratory. The city’s archaeological laboratory in Boston’s Archival Center houses millions of artifacts representing the diverse and deep history of Boston.

Joe is the manager of Rainsford Island, on which numerous archaeological sites have been documented. The Harbor Islands and the harbor seabed are the most intact archaeological landscapes in Boston and are a National Register designated Archaeological District.

Previously to joining the City of Boston, Joe served in the State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO) of both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and State of Maine, and he worked for several private archaeological firms along the east coast of the US documenting Native and Historical archaeological sites from northern Maine to the Florida everglades.

Joe received his MA in Historical Archaeology from UMass Boston and a BA in Archaeology with a minor in Earth Sciences from Boston University.

Webpage: boston.gov/archaeology