Plantation Site Context—taking a scalar approach to examining plantation landscapes

Summary

Plantations consist of multiple sites spread across the landscape with site contexts that are can be easily seen as discrete and separate entities. This paper argues for seeing these sites from more of a single site context using horizon markers on varying scales of inter-relation. These horizon markers can range from particular artifact types (sets of unique ceramics, agricultural implements), depositional contexts (rubble and fill deposits), and occupation period (generational/new owners). These archaeological observed markers are often driven by broad changes from household changes or unrest that represent major changes in landscape organization and seeking interrelationships between markers allows archaeologists to understand not just broader site formation processes but also the social actions that created these contexts. This paper will look at how the 18th and 19th century landscape of a Central Virginia plantation (Montpelier) is manifested through various horizon markers on a varying scales of analysis.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018   •
• Landscapes of Chesapeake Slavery

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 716