The Southwest Michigan Historic Landscape Project: Exploring Class, Gender, and Ethnicity From the Ground Up

• Published in: International journal of historical archaeology Vol. 5; no. 3; pp. 219 - 261
• Main Authors: Nassaney, Michael S., Rotman, Deborah L., Sayers, Daniel O., Nickolai, Carol A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Plenum Publishing Corporation 01-09-2001
• Subjects: Archaeological sites; Archaeological surveys; Barns; Cultural landscapes; Ethnicity; Historical archaeology; Houses; Material culture; Outbuildings; Urban agriculture; Views and Commentaries
• ISSN: 1092-7697; 1573-7748
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1012265702558

The Southwest Michigan Historic Landscape Project was initiated in 1994 to examine how the cultural landscapes and associated material culture of the region became transformed since the pioneer settlement of the early 19th century (ca. 1830s). Thus far we have used various methods to investigate four sites in Allegan, Calhoun, and Jackson counties at varying levels of intensity. From these initial efforts we have begun to compile comparative information on the built environment. Here we present the theory and methods used in the project and discuss how class, gender, and ethnic identities are expressed in the material record of the region.