Analysis of the Oval Planting Beds at Poplar Forest: Five Collections Spanning Almost 30 Years

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Boxed but not Forgotten Redux or: How I Learned to Stop Digging and Love Old Collections Part III" , at the 2021 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

In 2019, the Department of Archaeology and Landscapes at Poplar Forest completed excavations of an oval planting bed in front of Thomas Jefferson’s retreat home. These excavations abutted at least three previous projects. This central oval bed was framed by two additional planting beds outside of the carriage turnaround, both of which had been previously excavated. At least five projects spanning several decades are associated with these beds. It was decided to compare all three beds, which were contemporaries, to look for similarities and insights into the landscaping completed by enslaved workers at the plantation. To do so, artifacts and data from all past projects involving the three beds were assembled. The analysis included updating old catalogues, crossmending, and comparative analysis of these many projects. This paper will detail the re-analysis processes of the previous projects and the results of their incorporation with that of the central oval planting bed.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Boxed but not Forgotten Redux or: How I Learned to Stop Digging and Love Old Collections Part III   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2021

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology