Continuity, change and ethnic identity in 18th century Pennsylvania red earthenware: An archaeological and ethnohistorical study

This dissertation focuses on examining the stylistic, functional and symbolic roles of 18th century Pennsylvania red earthenware by achieving three objectives. First, analysis of archaeological red earthenware data enables construction of a taxonomic framework for describing and classifying 18th century Pennsylvania red earthenwares. Second, comparison of intersite red earthenware assemblages allows for the delineation of processual trends in redware styles and function. Third, red earthenware assemblages are examined to discover implicit symbolic meaning in 18th century contexts that are signified by decorative embellishments and discrete morphology. The typological system organized in this inquiry was based on the work of Turnbaugh (1983) and provides a systematic framework for describing and classifying redware data from archaeological assemblages. This systemization was applied to quantify redware materials recovered from six 18th century historical archaeological excavations situated in southeastern Pennsylvania region. In order to reveal consistencies or evolutionary change in the colonial Pennsylvania redware tradition over space and time, this study compared characteristic morphological and style attributes of redware vessels and sherds from the entire 18th century period. Comparison of the resulting processual data enabled delineation of datable redware attributes to specific period in the 18th century. Analyses of redware proposed in this dissertation also lays the foundation for future comparisons of 18th century redware data to extant 19th century redware assemblages. In addition this research attempts to define various European ethnic influences on the nascent Pennsylvania redware tradition and suggests inferences regarding the emic meaning of this utilitarian ware for early colonial citizens. Defining anthropological meaning for 18th century redware from Pennsylvania contexts is based on three theoretical post-processual perspectives. First, a social construction of the past is completed to define social relationships and ethnic conflict in the fledgling Pennsylvania province. This is accomplished through a survey of pertinent ethno-historical documents to better understand social relations for Pennsylvania immigrants. Second, meaning ascribed Pennsylvania redware is proposed by employing post-modern theories of hegemony, resistance and boundary maintenance. Third, material culture and in particular redware is viewed as symbolic evidence of the active and recursive roles all multicultural groups played in creating an incipient American culture.