It’s All About the Angle: An Explanation of the Excavations of Structural Complex F at The West Shipyard/Vine Street Lot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Summary

This is a poster submission presented at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Life along a river involves a symbiotic relationship between land dwellers and waterway navigators. It bolsters an ideology that the beings who produce on land support those who deliver the exports throughout the world through not only product but vessels as well. This dynamic was prevalent at the West Shipyard/Vine Street Lot in Philadelphia where mercantilism was just taking off and trade skills were the main source of activity along the waterfront. Excavations revealed several occupation layers related to life on the river. One building complex, known as Structural Complex F, was significant due to its orientation on the wharf when compared to other structures. This suggests earlier use when compared to the rest of the site. What was this structure used for? Through the analysis of several features within the complex a possible explanation was reached and could reveal a window into Philadelphia’s maritime economy in the eighteenth century.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2025   •
• 2025 SHA Poster Submissions

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow