Historical Archaeology

413 Pages·2016·12.08 MB·English

by  Charles E. Orser Jr.

Historical Archaeology
This readable introduction to historical archaeology focuses on modern history in all
its fascinating regional, cultural, and ethnic diversity. Accessibly covering key meth-
ods and concepts, including fundamental theories and principles, the history of the
field, and basic definitions, H istorical Archaeology also includes a practical look at
career prospects for interested readers. Orser discusses central topics of archaeological
research such as time and space, survey and excavation methods, and analytical tech-
niques, encouraging readers to consider the possible meanings of artifacts. Drawing
on the author’s extensive experience as an historical archaeologist, the book’s perspective
ranges from the local to the global in order to demonstrate the real importance of this
subject to our understanding of the world in which we live today.
The third edition of this popular textbook has been significantly revised and
expanded to reflect recent developments and discoveries in this exciting area of study.
Each chapter includes updated case studies that demonstrate the research conducted
by professional historical archaeologists. With its engaging approach to the subject,
Historical Archaeology continues to be an ideal resource for readers who wish to be
introduced to this rapidly expanding global field.
Charles E. Orser, Jr. is Research Professor of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University,
USA. He is the author of over 90 professional articles and a number of books, and is
the founding editor of the International Journal of Historical Archaeology.
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Historical Archaeology
Third Edition
Charles E. Orser, Jr.
Third edition published 2017
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2017 Charles E. Orser, Jr.
The right of Charles E. Orser, Jr. to be identified as author of this work has been asserted
by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any
form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to
infringe.
First edition published by Harper Collins College Publishers 1995
Second edition published by Pearson Education Inc. 2004
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Orser, Charles E., author.
Title: Historical archaeology / Charles E. Orser, Jr.
Description: Third edition. | Abingdon, Oxon : Routledge, 2016. | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016004565 | ISBN 9781138126053 (pbk. : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9781315647128 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Archaeology and history.
Classification: LCC CC77.H5 O77 2016 | DDC 930.1—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016004565
ISBN: 978-1-138-12605-3 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-64712-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Frutiger and Sabon
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
To Janice
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Contents
List of Figures xii
Preface xvii
Acknowledgments xix
Section I Foundations of Historical Archaeology 1
1 What Is Historical Archaeology? 3
Dividing Human History 5
The Roots of Today’s Historical Archaeology 8
Historical Archaeology as the Study of a Period of History 8
Ethnohistory 11
Oral History 11
Historical Archaeology Today 13
Historical Archaeology Is Multidisciplinary 17
Historical Archaeology Focuses on the Post-Columbian Past 19
Historical Archaeology Seeks to Understand the Global
Nature of Modern Life 19
The Goals of Historical Archaeology 23
Preservation and Site Interpretation 23
Undocumented Lifeways 24
Consumption and Globalization 24
Site Visit: La Isabella, Hispaniola, 1493–1498 26
2 A Brief History of Historical Archaeology 29
The Important and the Famous (1855 to the 1960s) 30
Theoretical Foundations 35
Historical Archaeology of People and Communities (1960s to Today) 37
Theoretical Foundations 39
People “Without History” 41
vii
Contents
Contemporary Historical Archaeology 44
Theoretical Foundations 45
Indigenous Connections 50
Site Visit: Smith’s Fort, Bermuda, 1613 51
3 Culture, History, and Archaeological Sites 55
Culture and Society 56
Cultural Systems 58
Cultural Change 61
Using Anthropology and History in Historical Archaeology 62
Microhistory 64
The Major Site Types of Historical Archaeology 65
Domestic Sites 66
Industrial Sites 68
Military Sites 73
Burial Sites 76
Special-Purpose Sites 78
Multipurpose Sites 79
Maritime and Underwater Sites 80
Site Visit: Palmares, Brazil, ca. 1650 82
4 Time and Space 85
Time in Historical Archaeology 85
Relative Dating 86
Dating with Objects of Known Age 91
Formula Dating 95
Dendrochronology 100
Absolute (Radiometric) Dating 101
Space in Historical Archaeology 102
Space at Archaeological Sites 104
Settlement Patterns 111
GIS in Historical Archaeology 113
The Link between Time and Space 115
Site Visit: Limehouse Porcelain Manufactory, London, 1745–1748 116
Section II Doing Historical Archaeology 119
5 Site Survey and Location in Historical Archaeology 121
Known Sites 121
Accidental Discoveries 123
Finding Sites in Historical Archaeology 124
Using Maps and Aerial Images to Find Modern-Era Sites 125
viii
Contents
Archaeological Survey 129
Subsurface Surveying 132
Site Visit: Pribilof Islands, Alaska, 1780s 141
6 Pre-Excavation Fieldwork: Documents, Interviews, Buildings 145
Historical Fieldwork and Documents 145
The Historian’s Craft 147
Oral Interviewing 152
Architectural Fieldwork 157
Detailed Architectural Surveys 159
Other Architectural Research 161
Site Visit: La Surveillante, Bantry Bay, Ireland, 1797 163
7 Archaeological Fieldwork: Field and Laboratory 167
Archaeological Procedures 167
The Process of Archaeological Research 169
Excavation 174
Conservation 186
Back to the Laboratory 188
Classifying and Grouping Historical Artifacts 188
Analysis 192
Site Visit: Fresh Water Pond, New York City, 1810–1834 197
8 Artifacts in Historical Archaeology 201
Artifacts and Material Culture 201
Interpreting Artifacts 203
Artifacts as Historical Documents 204
The Coca-Cola Bottle 206
Ceramic Maker’s Marks 206
Bottle Maker’s Marks 208
Technological Attributes 209
Artifacts as Commodities 212
Using Historical Records in Commodity Research 212
Using Artifacts in Commodity Research 215
Artifacts as Ideas 218
Different Interpretations of the Ideas behind Artifacts 219
Site Visit: Mobile, Alabama, 1702–1711 222
9 Historical Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management 225
The Changing Face of Historical Archaeology 225
A Short Overview of CRM Legislation in the United States 227
CRM Research 229
ix