The Archaeology of Craft and Industry (The American Experience in Archaeological Perspective)

Archaeologists investigating sites of craft and industrial enterprise often puzzle over a domain of bewildering ruins. Locations of remarkable energy, tumult, and creativity now stand silent. This book provides an overview of the archaeology of American craft and industrial enterprises, outlines developments in theories, research questions, and interpretative frameworks, and presents case studies from a wide range of subjects. Research focused on industrial enterprises traverses a spectrum of perspectives. Some limit their efforts to recording, mapping, and studying the mechanics of a site. Others examine comparative questions of changes of technologies over time and space. Many analysts look away from the buildings and equipment of the workplace and focus instead on the workers, their families, residences, lifeways, and health experiences. With many sites presenting standing ruins, historians and archaeologists often encounter local stakeholder groups who wish to promote heritage themes and tourism potentials. All of these perspectives can be pursued with significant advances in research and curation methods. Investigations often range from microscopic analysis of product constituents to large-scale, three-dimensional recording of locations and features with high-resolution laser technologies. Past debates questioned whether primary emphasis should be on heritage recording or on archaeological research questions. More recent trends focus on collaborations across interest groups. In this expansive yet concise survey, Christopher Fennell discusses archaeological research from sites across the United States that once manufactured, harvested, or processed commodities. Through studies of craft enterprise and the Industrial Revolution, this book uncovers key insights into American history from the seventeenth through the nineteenth centuries. Exploring evidence from textile mills, glassworks, cutlery manufacturers, and tanneries, Fennell describes the complicated transition from skilled manual work to mechanized production methods, and he offers examples of how artisanal skill remained important in many factory contexts. Fennell also traces the distribution and transportation of goods along canals and railroads. He delves into sites of extraction, such as lumber mills, copper mines, and coal fields, and reviews diverse methods for smelting and shaping iron. The book features an in-depth case study of Edgefield, South Carolina, a town that pioneered the production of alkaline-glazed stoneware pottery. Fennell outlines shifts within the field of industrial archaeology over the past century that have culminated in the recognition that these locations of remarkable energy, tumult, and creativity represent the lives and ingenuity of many people. In addition, he points to ways the field can help inform sustainable strategies for industrial enterprises in the present day.

In this expansive yet concise survey, Christopher Fennelldiscusses archaeological research from sites across the UnitedStates that once manufactured, harvested, or processed commodities.Through studies of craft enterprise and the Industrial Revolution,this book uncovers key insights into American history from theseventeenth through the nineteenth centuries.

Exploring evidence from textile mills, glassworks, cutlerymanufacturers, and tanneries, Fennell describes the complicatedtransition from skilled manual work to mechanized productionmethods, and he offers examples of how artisanal skill remainedimportant in many factory contexts. Fennell also traces thedistribution and transportation of goods along canals andrailroads. He delves into sites of extraction, such as lumbermills, copper mines, and coal fields, and reviews diverse methodsfor smelting and shaping iron. The book features an in-depth casestudy of Edgefield, South Carolina, a town that pioneered theproduction of alkaline-glazed stoneware pottery.

Fennell outlines shifts within the field of industrialarchaeology over the past century that have culminated in therecognition that these locations of remarkable energy, tumult, andcreativity represent the lives and ingenuity of many people. Inaddition, he points to ways the field can help inform sustainablestrategies for industrial enterprises in the present day.

Introduction: Craft, Industry, and Heritage -- Making and Harvesting Commodities: Episodes of Craft Growing to Industry -- Arteries and Flow -- Extraction -- Forges, Furnaces, and Metallurgy -- Craft at a Prodigious Scale: Potteries of Edgefield, South Carolina -- Heritage Dynamics and Concluding Observations "In this expansive yet concise survey, Christopher Fennell discusses archaeological research from sites across the United States that once manufactured, harvested, or processed commodities, uncovering key insights into American history"-- Provided by publisher