Seeds, Weeds, and Feed: Macrobotanical Analysis of Enslaved African-American Plant Use and Foodways at a James Madison's Montpelier
Author(s): Samantha J. Henderson
Year: 2015
Summary
In 2008, the archaeology department at James Madison’s Montpelier began a multi-year project that sought to understand the community dynamics between enslaved workers at the plantation in the early 19th century. This study excavated and analyzed four sites: South Yard, Stable Quarter, Field Quarter, and Tobacco Barn Quarter. Each of these sites represents a different community of enslaved workers, from those who worked in the mansion to field hands. In this paper, I discuss and compare the macrobotanical remains from these four sites. I describe the macrobotanical assemblages from each site, showing possible differences in subsistence strategies of the people living at these quarters. The macrobotanical remains will show the similarities and differences between the sites and importance of countless plant species as medicinals, foods, and fuels for enslaved African-Americans.
Cite this Record
Seeds, Weeds, and Feed: Macrobotanical Analysis of Enslaved African-American Plant Use and Foodways at a James Madison's Montpelier. Samantha J. Henderson. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, Seattle, Washington. 2015 ( tDAR id: 433778)
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Keywords
General
African Diaspora
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Foodways
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Paleoethnobotany
Geographic Keywords
North America
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United States of America
Temporal Keywords
Early 19th Century
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): 172