"Unsavory the qualities of that soup": Diet and Foodways at Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine, East Granby, Connecticut, 1790-1819

Summary

The Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office contracted AHS, Inc. to conduct a multi-phase archaeological survey at the National Historic Landmark Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine in East Granby, Connecticut, prior to planned repairs to the ca. 1790 prison guardhouse. Beginning in 1773, the Old New-Gate copper mine was used as a prison and criminals, Tories, and POWs were incarcerated there during the Revolutionary War. In 1790 Old New-Gate became the first state prison in the U.S. and operated in that capacity until 1827. Prisoners initially worked the mines, although a nailery and other industries were later established. Healthy prisoners were lodged underground in the tunnels and older and infirm inmates slept on the ground floor of the guardhouse.

Excavations, conducted around the guardhouse in 2013, revealed stratified, state prison-era deposits dated to 1790-1819 and containing nail-manufacturing debris, architectural items, domestic artifacts, and over 1300 well-preserved animal bones. This work includes an analysis of the faunal remains, which represent the vestiges of meals prepared and consumed by inmates and guards. The faunal evidence, contextualized through primary accounts of prisoners and overseers’ reports, provides insight into the dietary conditions and foodways at one of the nation’s oldest prisons.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage