The Gorman House Project: An Inter-Disciplinary Approach to Historical Archaeology

Summary

On a residential lot that was once owned and lived on by two African American women in the mid-1850’s, there is now a somewhat dilapidated house. Based on recent surveys it is now confirmed that this house is the original homestead of these women. This house is the remaining physical link to the unique story of Hannah and Eliza Gorman; a mother and daughter who crossed the Oregon Trail as domestic slaves. Once in Oregon, they gained their freedom and established their lives within the Corvallis community. Studying the built environment can contribute valuable information for studying domestic archaeological sites. By analyzing the construction materials, architectural styles and the phases of construction, it is possible to build a more accurate narrative of the experience of the Gorman women. Through the analysis of an above-ground site, one can better understand the concept of three-dimensional space; a concept that is often overlooked in archaeological sites.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Digging Domestic Spaces: An Exploration of Homesteads, Habitations and Farms   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-71,06