Encountering Asbestos in Historical Archaeology

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Archaeological Studies of Material Culture (General Sessions)" , at the 2021 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Textiles are infrequently present in the archaeological collections at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation due to their poor preservation. Contributing factors include the inherent fragility of organic material, the prevalence of pest activity, and the frequently damp and acidic soils of Williamsburg, Virginia. Despite these factors, a small fragment of woven cloth was excavated during the Armory project in 2014. The fragment was sent to conservation for treatment and rehousing, and it was during the initial microscopic investigation that an unusual surface feature was noted. Small particles of reflective material are embedded within the weave along with a dispersed, red pigment. Initial analytical methods resulted in more questions than answers, prompting an in-depth investigation of the artifact and a collaborative interpretation of its significance.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Archaeological Studies of Material Culture (General Sessions)   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2021

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology