The Archaeology of Northern Slavery and Freedom (The American Experience in Archaeological Perspective)

"Investigating what life was like for African Americans north of the Mason-Dixon Line during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, James Delle presents the first overview of archaeological research on the topic in this book, debunking the notion that the "free" states of the Northeast truly offered freedom and safety for African Americans. Excavations at cities including New York and Philadelphia reveal that slavery was a crucial part of the expansion of urban life as late as the 1840s. Slaves cleared forests, loaded and unloaded ships, and manufactured charcoal to fuel iron furnaces. The case studies in this book also show that enslaved African-descended people frequently staffed suburban manor houses and agricultural plantations. Moreover, for free blacks, racist laws such as the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 limited the experience of freedom in the region. Delle explains how members of the African diaspora created rural communities of their own and worked in active resistance against the institution of slavery, assisting slaves seeking refuge and at times engaging in violent conflicts. The book concludes with a discussion on the importance of commemorating these archaeological sites, as they reveal an important yet overlooked chapter in African American history. Delle shows that archaeology can challenge dominant historical narratives by recovering material artifacts that express the agency of their makers and users, many of whom were written out of the documentary record. Emphasizing that race-based slavery began in the Northeast and persisted there for nearly two centuries, this book corrects histories that have been whitewashed and forgotten. A volume in the series the American Experience in Archaeological Perspective, edited by Michael S. Nassaney"--Publisher's description Investigating what life was like for African Americans north of the Mason-Dixon Line during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, James Delle presents the first overview of archaeological research on the topic in this book, debunking the notion that the "free" states of the Northeast truly offered freedom and safety for African Americans. 0Excavations at cities including New York and Philadelphia reveal that slavery was a crucial part of the expansion of urban life as late as the 1840s. The case studies in this book also show that enslaved African-descended people frequently staffed suburban manor houses and agricultural plantations. Moreover, for free blacks, racist laws such as the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 limited the experience of freedom in the region. Delle explains how members of the African diaspora created rural communities of their own and worked in active resistance against the institution of slavery.0Delle shows that archaeology can challenge dominant historical narratives by recovering material artifacts that express the agency of their makers and users, many of whom were written out of the documentary record. Emphasizing that race-based slavery began in the Northeast and persisted there for nearly two centuries, this book corrects histories that have been whitewashed and forgotten. 0A volume in the series the American Experience in Archaeological Perspective, edited by Michael S. Nassaney Although African slavery in the United States is generally associated with the South, the institution also existed in northern states as late as the 1840s, especially in large urban centers, such as Philadelphia and New York. Contrariwise, freed African Americans in the region established rural communities all their own and actively resisted the institution as a whole. The newest volume proposed for inclusion in the American Experience in Archaeological Perspective series, written by one of the leading scholars in the field of African Diaspora archaeology, is a synthetic analysis of recently published work on the subject (although no monograph exists on northern slavery). This volume provides a new perspective on the intricate connection between slavery and freedom in the United States. As Delle argues, scholars cannot understand slavery "in the absence of freedom." Cover THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF NORTHERN SLAVERY AND FREEDOM Title Copyright CONTENTS List of Figures List of Maps List of Tables Foreword Preface Introduction Part I. The Problem of Northern Slavery 1. Slavery, Freedom, Archaeology 2. The History of Slavery in the “Free” States Part II. Bondage 3. The Archaeology of Bondage in the Northern States 4. Rose Hill: Archaeology at a Finger Lakes Plantation Part III. Struggle 5. Archaeology and the Struggle for Freedom 6. The Parker House: An Archaeology of Armed Resistance in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Part IV. Liberty 7. The Problem of Northern Freedom 8. Mrs. Smith’s House Part V. Commemoration Conclusion References Cited Index Introduction -- The Problem Of Northern Slavery -- Slavery, Freedom, Archaeology -- The History Of Slavery In The Free States -- Bondage -- The Archaeology Of Bondage In The Northern States -- Rose Hill: Archeology At A Finger Lakes Plantation -- Struggle -- Archaeology And The Struggle For Freedom -- The Parker House: An Archaeology Of Armed Resistance -- Liberty -- The Problem Of Northern Freedom -- Mrs. Smith's House -- Conclusion. James A. Delle ; Foreword By Michael S. Nassaney. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Electronic Reproduction. Baltimore, Md Available Via World Wide Web.