Reconstruction And Interpretation Of Archaeological Textiles Excavated From The H.L. Hunley Submarine: A Collaborative Effort Between Conservators, Archaeologists, Curators, And Historians

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.

The H.L.Hunley submarine disappeared in 1864 in Charleston after successfully attacking USS Housatonic. Researchers determined that shortly after the loss of the submarine, the bodies of the crewmembers were gradually covered with sediment, protecting their clothing from the environment. Sediment entered the submarine near the forward conning tower, covering the commander of the vessel, Lieutenant Dixon, earlier than the rest, contributing to a better preservation of his clothing. Due to their fragility, the textiles were block-lifted, containing a combination of textiles, skeletal remains, and personal artifacts. Lt. Dixon’s case puzzled the archaeological and conservation teams because he was not wearing military clothing but rather high-quality civilian attire. As a result, we sought the help from local historians and curators to try to reconstruct Dixon’s attire. This collaborative approach led us to finally piece together what Dixon wore and led us to resolve some of the clues to his mysterious life.

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