Frontier Access in East Tennessee: A Ceramic Analysis of Ramsey House (40KN120), Bell Site (40KN202), and Exchange Place (40SL22)

Author(s): Abby J. Naunheimer

Year: 2013

Summary

Three frontier-era East Tennessee homesteads were chosen to conduct ceramic analyses as a beginning point of understanding consumer access. Ramsey House, Bell Site, and Exchange Place were each occupied beginning in the late 18th century and continued into the first quarter of the 19th century. 

The results of examining household ceramics, newspaper advertisements, and day book transactions suggest frontier-era East Tennessee residents were unfairly portrayed as disconnected, non-consumers. The ceramic assemblages revealed a high percentage of imported, refined earthenwares, along with porcelain and local coarse wares. The diversity of vessel forms and decorations attest to availability and consumer choice. 

Settlers in East Tennessee were able to participate in a commercial society within a globalized world. They were affected by European wars and decisions made in Washington D.C. They were progressive capitalists who promoted a world economic system through their purchases.   

Cite this Record

Frontier Access in East Tennessee: A Ceramic Analysis of Ramsey House (40KN120), Bell Site (40KN202), and Exchange Place (40SL22). Abby J. Naunheimer. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, Leicester, England, U.K. 2013 ( tDAR id: 428240)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

min long: -129.199; min lat: 24.495 ; max long: -66.973; max lat: 49.359 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 353