New Perspectives on Human-Plant Histories in Delaware: Acheobotanical Data from the Route 301 Mega Project.

Summary

This paper will focus on the interpretation a large flotation-derived floral dataset produced from seven archaeological mitigations accomplished under the Route 301 Mega Project.   A diverse range of features (wells, cellars, smokehouses, root cellars, middens, kilns, slave quarters) were sampled from a variety of domestic, agricultural and small-scale industrial contexts that comprised the social landscape of rural Delaware during the 1700’s and 1800’s.  The collective floral data make a valuable contribution to the project’s research themes of site economy, tenancy, and slavery in the post-colonial landscape.  The project affords a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of people-plant relationships at a series of diverse but closely tied historic sites.  In addition to generating a powerful regional dataset, the archeobotanical studies were significantly enhanced by close collaborative and coordinated research involving multiple CRM firms and government agencies. 

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2016   •
• New Highway Uncovers New Histories: Archaeology Mitigations From the U.S. Route 301 Mega Project in Delaware

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 328