Roles of Historical Archaeology in the Interpretation of 

                         Our Historic Past, Part I

                                        by John Nass, Jr.

                                                            Editor, President of Mon Yough Chapter 3

Comments from the editor: This contribution is taken from my historical lectures while teaching at California University of Pennsylvania.  Over the years, I came to realize that historical archaeology has been and is still used to accomplish certain tasks, especially those that involve the portrayal of historical events and historical period sites. 

Introduction     

     The scholarly debate in the 1950s-1960s to define the proper subject matter of historical archaeology, who is qualified to excavate historic period sites, and move it beyond simply assisting historians was intense and sometimes vicious (see Schuyler 1978, editor). I prefer the description of Historical Archaeology posited by Charles Orser, “it is a multi-disciplinary field that shares a relationship with both History and Anthropology” (Orser 2016). 

     In the 1970s research by Stanley South (1977, 1978) and others, helped define the theoretical and anthropological trajectory for Historical Archaeology. Since that time, the discipline has made great strides in helping us understanding now gender, nationalism, ethnicity, social status, and ideological teachings can be gleamed from the archaeological record with the assistance of documents.

     As stated above, I believe it is possible to sort historical archaeological investigation of the built environment into several themes. These are: 1) Archaeology assisted on-site interpretation of extant structures for visitors; 2) complete reconstruction to make the past live again; 3) stabilizing of existing structural remains with little to no additional reconstruction; and 4) ground truth based reconstruction. This installment will focus on the first of the four themes. 

     Examples of the first role, assisted on-site interpretation of an extant historical site, include Williamsburg in Virginia; Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson in Virginia ; Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island Michigan; and the Hermitage, the home of Andrew Jackson in Tennessee. At each of these sites, commissions, or foundations, or agencies have used targeted archaeology to enrich the educational experience of the visitor by revealing the lives of the people who worked, lived and died at these sites.   

     Colonial Williamsburg was saved from falling victim to urban blight by the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in the 1920s. The city of Williamsburg was established at the site of Middle Plantation in 1699. The evolving community was renamed Williamsburg in honor of King William III of England. The town functioned as the capital of the colony and Commonwealth from 1699 to 1780.  

     Colonial Williamsburg was saved from falling victim to urban blight by the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller in the 1920s.  Their effort created Colonial Williamsburg, a 301 acre historic area celebrating the historical importance of the colonial-era. Archaeological investigation within the historic area has been ongoing since the 1920s. One of the earliest excavation projects was establishing the location of the colonial Governor's Palace that burned in the 1780s. The structural complex was later rebuilt on the exact footprint of the original residence in the 1930s. Today the Archaeology Department is actively engaged in revealing the social history of the people who lived at this historic community. Costumed guides, craftsman, and others give the visitor an idea of what life was like for some members of the community. 

   

Carriage outside of the reconstructed colonial Governor's mansion at Williamsburg, Virginia.

    While the Rockefeller's supported Williamsburg, other historically significant properties such as Monticello, the Hermitage, and other sites such as Mount Vernon and the Jamestown Rediscovery Project were saved by preservation minded women's associations. 

     Monticello has been maintained and kept open to the public by the non-profit Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc, which owns nearly 3000 acres of the original 5000 acre plantation. Archaeological investigations over the past several years have focused on two areas: the craft activities buildings along a service road west of the main house, and the accommodations and activities of enslaved individuals around the plantation.    

    

Monticello, home of President Thomas Jefferson, Virginia.

     Fort Mackinac was built near the end of the Revolutionary War in 1780/1781 on Mackinac Island by the British who had abandoned wooden Fort Michilmackinac at the straights of Mackinac (Mackinac City). American forces took possession of thReferene fortification ca. 1796, lost it during the War of 1812, and reoccupied it until the late 19th century. Today the fortification is operated by the Mackinac Park Commission. 

     Archaeological and historical investigations have focused on the lives of the soldiers who garrisoned the fortification, such as the lifestyles of the officer class, wives of the enlisted men, their diet, recreational activities, etc. for both British and American soldiers. The fort also has a living history program during its summer season. 

View of Fort Mackinac, Mackinac Island, Michigan, from Sthe harbor.

Inside of Fort Mackinac.

  

          The Hermitage, outside of Nashville, Tennessee, was the home of  President Jackson from 1804 until 1845. The Ladies Hermitage Association, renamed the Andrew Jackson Foundation in 2014, acquired from the state the core 25-acre site with existing key buildings of the Hermitage in 1889. 

     The evolution of the plantation occurred in two phases: purchase of the original farm buildings and acreage in 1804 and occupied until the Federal-style, brick mansion was finished in 1821, and the post-1821 period. Rebuilding of the fire damaged mansion in 1834, created the Greek Revival appearance seen today. 

     Archeological testing by the state in 1975, at the request of the foundation, focused on  Jackson's home and slave quarters of the first Hermitage to gather information about the material culture and dietary behavior of the enslaved workers and the Jackson's. Inhouse archaeological investigation continue at the site.  

The First Hermitage, used by Jackson prior to the building of his larger mansion in 1821.

The later Hermitage, remodeled in the Greek Revival style, 

     What is significant about the archaeological research at these sites is the effort to go beyond simply providing signage for the visitor to read and rooms with furnishings. What were the lives of children really like in the colonial period? Why were housed built the way they were? How was their perception of refuse different from ours? How was landscaping used to structure the placement of formal gardens, gardening spaces, and outbuildings? These and other questions offer a real glimpse into the world view of the people. 

 References

Orser, Charles E, Jr.

2016 Historical Archaeology, 3^rd edition, Routledge, London.

South, Stanley

1977 Method and Theory in Historical Archaeology. Academic Press, New York.

 1977 Research Strategies in Historical Archaeology. Academic Press, New York.

1978 Research Strategies for Archaeological Pattern Recognition on Historic Sites. World Archaeology 10(1):36-50.

Schuyler,  Robert L., editor

1978 Historical Archaeology: A Guide to Substantive and Theoretical Contributions. Baywood Publishing, Farmingdale, New York.