by Henry M. Miller (Editor), Travis G. Parno (Editor)
Publisher: University Press of Florida; 1st edition
Publication date: May 4, 2021
Language: English
Hardcover: 366 pages
ISBN-10: 0813066832
ISBN-13: 978-0813066837
This book provides an overview of the extensive and varied archaeological findings that have emerged over the past five decades of exploration at St. Mary’s City, a site of historical significance as it served as the first capital of Maryland and one of the earliest European settlements in the United States. Established in 1634, this colonial hub vanished by 1750, but the archaeological revelations presented in “Unearthing St. Mary’s City” unveil its largely untold history.
The contributors to this volume introduce fresh research methodologies and techniques that have been developed in recent years at Historic St. Mary’s City. They scrutinize the archaeology, architectural structures, and the people who inhabited this vibrant seventeenth-century colonial town. Additionally, they delve into the agricultural, enslavement, and remembrance landscapes that evolved at the site over the centuries following the capital’s relocation to Annapolis.
In their respective chapters, the contributors explore a wide array of subjects, encompassing soil analysis, ceramics, dietary practices, forts, burials, plantations, state houses, tenants, tobacco pipes, gaming, and the education of women.
The lands along the Chesapeake Bay have been witnesses to a diverse range of human experiences, and this book brings to light the stories of individuals from European, Native American, and African backgrounds who resided on this site across four centuries. These narratives shed light on the complex nature of this significant location and the broader Chesapeake region, underscoring the potential and significance of historical archaeology.
The contributors to this volume include scholars and experts like Terry Peterkin Brock, Karin S. Bruwelheide, Charles H. Fithian, Silas D. Hurry, Stephen S. Israel, Robert Keeler, George L. Miller, Henry M. Miller, Ruth M. Mitchell, Alexander “Sandy” H. Morrison II, Douglas W. Owsley, Travis G. Parno, Timothy B. Riordan, Michelle Sivilich, Garry Wheeler Stone, Wesley R. Willoughby, and Donald L. Winter.
Review
An impressive overview of the archaeological and historical research undertaken at Historic St. Mary?s City in five decades’ worth of work. The editors have skillfully combined contributions from members of the first generation of those exploring Maryland?s former buried capital, to the next generation that continues to find new avenues for inquiry. (Luke J. Pecoraro, coeditor of Stewards of Memory: The Past, Present, and Future of Historic Preservation at George Washington?s Mount Vernon)
A fantastic range of historical narratives, archaeological investigations, landscape studies, and material culture analyses that define the nascent colonial town. Well organized and comprehensive, this volume traces the nearly four centuries of the city?s history, enveloping the reader in 50 years of groundbreaking archaeology. (David M. Givens, director of archaeology, Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation)
Brings together fifteen case studies that highlight the historic citys pioneering archaeological research program and its significant contributions to the study of early Maryland history.(Mark Kostro, Longwood University) Amazon.com
