Who’s Free Markets? Subaltern Economic Networks in Reconstruction Delmarva and the Importance of Philadelphia

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.

Philadelphia has always been an important cultural hub for the African American community of the Delmarva. Prior to Emancipation, there was a notable free African American population within the region, a population which began developing their own economic network during the early 19th century. This network ran parallel as a subaltern market system to those of other groups of the region due to the racial inequalities imposed by local powers and laid the groundwork for the economic connections of the African American population of the Delmarva to Philadelphia that existed during the latter 19th century. In this presentation I will demonstrate how artifacts are uniquely situated to represent the tangible remnants of this subaltern market network. The archaeology of the Delmarva and its ties to Philadelphia form a unique and understudied case in the exhibition of resistance to economic and political power during a time of great social upheaval.

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