In Small Things Forgotten: An Archaeology of Early American LifeHistory is recorded in many ways. According to author James Deetz, the past can be seen most fully by studying the small things so often forgotten. Objects such as doorways, gravestones, musical instruments, and even shards of pottery fill in the cracks between large historical events and depict the intricacies of daily life. In his completely revised and expanded edition of In Small Things Forgotten, Deetz has added new sections that more fully acknowledge the presence of women and African Americans in Colonial America. New interpretations of archaeological finds detail how minorities influenced and were affected by the development of the Anglo-American tradition in the years following the settlers' arrival in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. Among Deetz's observations: Subtle changes in building long before the Revolutionary War hinted at the growing independence of the American colonies and their desire to be less like the British. Records of estate auctions show that many households in Colonial America contained only one chair--underscoring the patriarchal nature of the early American family. All other members of the household sat on stools or the floor. The excavation of a tiny community of freed slaves in Massachusetts reveals evidence of the transplantation of African culture to North America. Simultaneously a study of American life and an explanation of how American life is studied, In Small Things Forgotten, through the everyday details of ordinary living, colorfully depicts a world hundreds of years in the past. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - Cheryl_in_CC_NV - LibraryThingGranted, I know almost nothing of prehistoric or historical archaeology, and so am not a fit judge of this book for the professional. But for the ever curious, like me, it's fascinating. One might ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - Cheryl_in_CC_NV - LibraryThingI attempted to read this revision too soon after reading the much shorter first edition. This is too much 'same but different' for me. I do say, be aware, this is almost revised & expanded enough to ... Read full review
Contents
THE ANGLOAMERICAN Past | 38 |
ALL THE EARTHENWARE PLAIN AND FLOWERED | 68 |
REMEMBER ME As You Pass By | 89 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
African American Anglo-American appearance archaeology architectural artifacts become beginning Boston building built carvers cellar ceramics chamber pots cherub Chesapeake chimney close colonial Colono ware common construction culture decorated detailed earlier early eighteenth century England English evidence example excavated face fact Figure four function grave gravestone ground historical historical archaeology Hundred important individual inventories John kind known late later less lived mark Massachusetts material material culture means occupation original past pattern period pipes played Plymouth popular pottery present probably produced reasonable records reflect region relate remains represent result seems seen served seventeenth century similar simple slave social South stones structure style suggest things tion town tradition typical University Virginia West