Digging Up the Dirt: The Role & Effects of Historical Archaeology

Historic Archaeological Excavation through the Penn Museum

 

Archaeology is the study of past cultures through the study of their material remains.  As discussed in previous posts there are several areas of the field of archaeology.  Today’s blog post is dedicated to discussing one of those areas: historical archaeology. 

Historical archaeology focuses on the material cultural remains connected to American Indian and Euroamerican groups and sites post-colonization of the Americas.  Locating these sites can, in some ways, be easier due to the presence of historical records, although they are not always present and therefore not always used when investigating historic archaeological sites.  Historical archaeological artifacts also tend to be easier to identify since there is a means of comparing them to known artifacts, but that requires archaeologists to have the knowledge and an understanding of how and what items were used in the past. 

The artifact types, however, are not that different from any other archaeological investigation.  For example, there are still ceramic artifacts at historic sites, although the variety of ceramics does vary and matches the technological advances of the period.  There is also a bit more variety in what may be found at historical sites.  For example, there is a bit more variety in metal artifacts, which include nails, bullets, cans, and wire.  There are also a variety of glass objects, which are atypical of many prehistoric sites.

Given the context of historical archaeology many might wonder what the purpose of the field is.  If historical records are already present what more could the archaeological evidence provide?  Plenty, actually.  The archaeological record can fill in gaps in the historical record.  For example, Hill’s Fort in southern Illinois was discovered through archaeological investigation, and this discovery assisted in the historical understanding of the founding of the state.  The archaeological record can also provide insights into the past that may not have been addressed at the time.  For example, archaeology of slavery provides insights into the culture and resistance among enslaved individuals, which was not typically addressed in the historical record.  Therefore, historical archaeology serves some very distinctive purposes.

Students interested in learning more about archaeology, specifically historical archaeology, should contact me regarding an opportunity to excavate at a historic site in the area.  

References

Sutton, M. and Arkush, B.  2014.  Archaeological Laboratory Methods: An Introduction.  Kendall Hunt Publishing.

 

Anthropologist Profiles: Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston was a novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist.  In fact, she was one of the first African American anthropologists, but her anthropological career is often overshadowed by her contributions to literature.  To remedy this today’s post will address her life and anthropological contributions.

Zora Neale Hurston was born in Alabama in January 1891, but she moved to Eatonville, Florida several years later.  This move is significant because the town was the first Black township.  Born of two former slaves, Hurston grew up never knowing about or experiencing the prejudice and discrimination her parents or her peers experienced.  Unfortunately, when she turned 13 her mother passed away, and shortly thereafter her idyllic childhood ended.  Hurston moved from Eatonville, living with different relatives, taking odd jobs to survive, and never completing high school.  Several of her jobs were serving as a maid, the most significant of which was taking on employment with the Gilbert and Sullivan Troupe.  This is where it is believed she fell in love with literature, which initiated her desire to return to school.

At age 26 the opportunity to earn her high school diploma was presented to her, but there was a catch: she was too old.  She lied about her age, claiming to be ten years younger (a lie that she carried with her for the remainder of her life).  She completed high school, followed by attending Barnard College, where she studied under the father of modern anthropology, Franz Boas.  Boas inspired Hurston to pursue studies of African American culture and folklore, and he encouraged her to return to Eatonville to conduct her research.  Shortly thereafter she published her first anthropological works, which included a book titled, Mules and Men, and several articles in the Journal of American Folklore.

In 1935, after a brief period away from academia Hurston returned to her educational pursuits by enrolling in Columbia University on a Rosenwald Foundation fellowship.  Her interests, which remained on African culture, moved from African American culture to Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latino cultures.  She began to study Hoodoo and Voodoo throughout the American South and Caribbean, particularly in Haiti.  She eventually published her studies in the work titled, Tell My Horse. 

Hurston left her anthropological studies shortly thereafter, focusing exclusively on her literature career.  She published several stories and plays, working with several notable writers of the Harlem Renaissance, including Langston Hughes.  Unfortunately, her literature career never took off, and she never returned to anthropology.  She eventually passed away in 1960 from a stroke.  Her contributions to anthropology and literature were nearly lost, but a renewed interest in her work came about ten years after her death, which is why she is known today.

References

Biography.com Editors.  2017.  “Zora Neale Hurston Biography.com.”  The Biography.com website

 

No Author.  2017.  “Hurston’s Life.”  Zora Neale Hurston Digital Archive.

 

Sonnet Media.  2015.  “About.”  Zora Neale Hurston: The Official Website.