William Berkley, Civil War Sutler: Archaeological Investigations

Summary

Sutler stores were a common component of large Civil War era camps.  At Camp Nelson, a large Union Civil War Depot in Jessamine County, Kentucky, several stores are listed in official records.  The store run by William Berkley has been the site of archaeological investigation for the last few years.  New work at the site has greatly expanded our understanding of the breadth of goods sold, including the international original of many goods.  These excavations have also enhanced our interpretations of the store’s physical configuration.  Recent geophysical survey efforts have resulted in the location of a stone lined pit feature adjacent to the store.   This feature is likely an outdoor cooking oven, suggesting the store may have prepared food for the soldiers as well as sold ready to consume goods such as canned sardines and bottled soda water. 

Cite this Record

William Berkley, Civil War Sutler: Archaeological Investigations. W. Stephen McBride, Kim A. McBride, Philip B. Mink, George Crothers. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, Washington, D.C. 2016 ( tDAR id: 434842)

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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): 318