"A Stove Boat": Archaeological and Historical Investigation of E. & E. K. Cook Whaling Company and Its Reaction to a Dimming Industry

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)" , at the 2022 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Despite whale oil flickering out of public demand following the 1859 discovery of petroleum, American whaling operations continued to innovate hunting strategy and vessel usage, while broadening and diversifying maritime assets and identity in an effort for self-preservation. This paper aims to evaluate this period of decline in the industry during the late 19th century by analyzing the whaling history of Provincetown, Massachusetts and the 1879 fall of E. & E. K. Cook & Co.’s maritime industry, fishing, and whaling “empire”. Among other efforts, their multifunctional use of vessels and a strategic shift towards “plum-pudding” voyages to hunting grounds in the Atlantic, such as those around North Carolina, offer insight into the impact of Northern whalers on Southern fisheries. Addressed through archaeological survey, historical research, and behavioral analysis, this paper discusses specific technological modifications and business adaptations implemented in response to the broader maritime landscape of a dying industry.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SHA 2022 General Sessions   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2022

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology