Deconstructing Ubiquity: the Interpretive Value of Metal Drum Container Artifacts
Author(s): Andrew S. Higgs
Year: 2017
Summary
As 20th and 21st century artifacts, metal drum containers straddle historical and contemporary archaeological studies that will be conducted during the next 50 years. They are found across the globe as repurposed objects within site features, as components of expedient structures, as well as vernacular landscape artifacts. Although often simply described in CRM reports as "ubiquitous 55 gallon drums," archival research and field data demonstrate that not all drums are created equal in function, design or size. Current research has revealed datable drum attributes, including container manufacturer end marks that display the exact year of manufacture, making them a valuable asset for site interpretations. This poster will present drum nomenclature as well as highlight many documented uses of drums in historical and contemporary contexts at subsistence gathering sites, and within farming, mining, military, urban and other cultural landscapes.
Cite this Record
Deconstructing Ubiquity: the Interpretive Value of Metal Drum Container Artifacts. Andrew S. Higgs. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, Fort Worth, TX. 2017 ( tDAR id: 435571)
This Resource is Part of the Following Collections
Keywords
General
contemporary
•
Landscape
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Reuse
Geographic Keywords
North America
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United States of America
Temporal Keywords
20th 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): 440