Concealed Clothing or Cold Climate? The Discovery of 103 Articles of Historic Clothing in an Iron-Worker’s Cottage

Summary

During restoration of a ca.1817 worker’s house in Catoctin Furnace, Maryland, 103 articles of clothing were discovered inserted between the eaves. The heavily worn and patched clothing for men, women and children includes both current fashion and utilitarian articles. An extraordinary discovery in its own right, the dataset is augmented by the recovery of over 200 buttons, as well as pins, needles, and shoes from excavation beneath the floorboards of the house. This paper shares research on the wearers of this clothing, including age, gender, wear patterning, technology use, and home industry, as well as comparison with the archaeological assemblage to illuminate the living conditions of this population. The project explores the role of climate as an indicator of an assemblage of this type. It also provides data-grounded interpretations for public presentation and restoration efforts that highlight the role of rural industrial workers in the history of the United States.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions) 2017   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2017

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 706