Changing Times, Changing Tastes: A Comparison of 18th and 19th Century Consumption Patterns at James Madison's Montpelier

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Zooarchaeology, Faunal, and Foodways Studies" session, at the 2019 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The 18th century has often taken a back seat when it comes to the interpretation of James Madison’s Montpelier. Two sites near the mansion, however, offer a unique window into the lives of the Madison family in the transition from the 18th to early 19th century. The South Kitchen, one of six structures within the South Yard complex, is an detatched kitchen associated with the home of Nelly Madison, mother of our fourth president James Madison Jr. This kitchen was in use throughout the 18h and 19th centuries. Coupled with an 18th century midden found in the Southwest Yard associated with the kitchen, this paper will explore consumption patterns of the 18th century Montpelier household and it would also provide a window into the changing diets of 18th and 19h century homes in the Virginia Piedmont.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Zooarchaeology, Faunal, and Foodways Studies   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2019

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 413