Revisiting Old Collections: Revelations from the 175 Water Street Site, New York City

Summary

In 1982, a team of archaeologist under the direction of Joan Geismar, excavated the 175 Water Street site along the East River waterfront in lower Manhattan. Thousands of smoking pipes were recovered that dated between circa 1740 and circa 1800, a period of time less documented archaeologically in New York City. In 1989, the collection of 350,000 artifacts from the 175 Water St. site was donated to the South Street Seaport Museum. Artifacts with ‘exhibit potential’ were photographed, documented and stored in museum cabinets. The bulk of the collection was warehoused for future researchers. More than a decade later, the pipes were re-examined, revealing a more complicated picture of the pipe trade in 18th century NYC than had previously been understood. In addition to Bristol, London and Liverpool pipes, the sample contained pipes from Chester ‘ at least 70 specimens ‘ as well as pipes made by eighteenth century Gouda pipemakers, hitherto unreported in New York City.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014   •
• Clay Tobacco Pipe Studies: Where Will the 21st century Bring Us?

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-39,03