Archaeology of the American Southwest: Comparing the Mythology of the Frontier with Daily Life in Fort Davis, Texas

Summary

The mythology of the frontier has captured the imaginations of generations of Americans. Images of cowboys, ranchers, and gold miners have become the idealized subjects of wild west shows, dime novels, paintings, and films.  Even today, the legends of Buffalo Bill, Jesse James, and Calamity Jane are still widely known.  In an attempt to examine how these romantic myths have shaped the lives of those living in the Southwest, this poster presentation will analyze 20th century cultural material recovered during the 2014 and 2015 field seasons from the La Casa Vieja Adobe located in Fort Davis, Texas. The structure was utilized for a variety of purposes including serving as a Catholic chapel, private residences, an apple orchard, and a Jewish boy’s camp.  However, the majority of the recovered material has been identified as belonging to the 20th century seasonal residential occupation and this will be the central focus of analysis.  

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Poster Submission 2018   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 793