Introduction
Historical artifacts that may be found on dump sites provide an extraordinary amount of data regarding their origin, as there are vast archives that can provide clear links to eras. The assessment of sources helps significantly with the establishment of a time frame for the provided assemblage. Through the analysis of this group of artifacts, it is possible to determine their era and the group of people they belonged to, as well as societal changes that affected it.
Organization of Artifacts
Table 1 – Historical archaeological artifact analysis.
The period appears to be broad, although it is necessary to make assumptions during the examination. This collection is dated as stemming from the late nineteenth century and a significant part of the twentieth.
Table 2 – Historic Artifact Summary.
In Table 2, the artifacts are organized by material to highlight the widespread use of the presented resources. Porcelain and earthenware are likely to occur less frequently due to their decrease in popularity at that time. The oldest object that can be recognized is the bowl, as its maker’s mark comes from the English pottery store John Edwards & Co. since its date that leads to the archive of such locations (“John Edwards & Co.”).
Similarly, another indicator of that era is a rusted, hand-wrought nail. Its flat top and design were used on a massive scale in the middle-late nineteenth century (Sidler). Thus, this piece of construction may be the most ancient item in the assemblage. The identification of the most recent example in the presented list can be done through the maker’s mark as well. The Owens-Illinois Glass Company puts a clear stamp on each bottle’s bottom side that reveals its year of production (“Owens-Illinois Glass Company”). Therefore, the newest object in the array comes from 1966.
Interpretation of Artifacts
Several artifacts indicate the shift in consumption patterns among the population toward mass-produced goods. As seen in Table 1, there are two nails present in this collection, although one of them is manually wrought, while the other one is factory-made. Furthermore, a similar comparison can be constructed between a glass vial without seams and a bottle with seams that reveal its manufacturing method.
Additionally, these artifacts reveal trash disposal patterns, such as the liquid-holding containers. Both glass objects remain capable of performing their functions, yet they are thrown away nonetheless. The porcelain bowl also follows this example, which is especially questionable due to the handcrafted design it possesses. It is also possible to conclude that the majority of discarded items belonged to middle-class Americans since the bowl reveals its rarity clearly. Alongside the doll head, these porcelain decorations show that their value would be insurmountable for other parts of the U.S. population.
Conclusion
In summary, these artifacts from the dump site in Virginia were produced between the late nineteenth century and 1960s. They belonged to middle-class citizens whose lives were rapidly changing due to the industrialization processes. Some of these pieces were created in factories, although ceramic and earthenware objects were made by artisans.
In a different context, such as a mining site, this assemblage could have differed significantly in the number of handcrafted items that were thrown away. Additionally, the presence of manufactured goods could have been more pronounced due to their greater accessibility. Virginia was populated with wealthier households who had the privilege to possess goods from factories early on and throw away their custom-made objects.
Works Cited
“John Edwards & Co.” A-Z on Stoke-on-Trent Potteries. Web.
“Owens-Illinois Glass Company.” Glass Bottle Marks. Web.
Sidler, Scott. “The History of Nails.” The Craftsman Blog, 2023. Web.