SHOEBOX ARCHAEOLOGY: AN
ARTIFACT IDENTIFICATION WORKSHOP
New Castle Community
History and Archaeology Program
5 March 2006
A GUIDE TO ON-LINE
RESOURCES FOR ARTIFACT IDENTIFICATION
This
guide is intended to briefly introduce you to some of the Internet sites that
are available for learning more about the historic-period archaeological
artifacts you might find in New Castle.
Because there are a wide variety of sources available, the information presented
here is intended to offer you a starting point for learning more about artifact
identification. Because many of these web
sites include bibliographies and other reference lists, they will open leads to
other sources of information that you might want to pursue. The back of this page lists some general
resources for archaeology in Delaware.
Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland
http://www.jefpat.org/diagnostic/Index.htm
This web site provides a good introduction to learning about
artifacts for the Mid-Atlantic region.
While the site it targeted to Maryland artifacts, most of the
information is broadly applicable to the Mid-Atlantic region. The web site is intended to assist people in
recognizing the types of artifacts typically found in the region, the terms
commonly used, and where to go to learn more.
The site currently includes only information for prehistoric and
historic ceramics, dating 1000 B.C. to the end of the 1700s. However, in the future it will be expanded
to include other artifact types.
Maryland Archaeology Resource Guide
http://www.marylandarcheology.org/Resource_Guide/ARCH_GUIDE.htm
The goal of this web site is to provide non-professional
(avocational) archeologists with access to free, reliable sources of
information about archaeology. It is a clearinghouse for information and
provides links to sites about artifact identification as well as archeological
techniques, ethics, and virtual museums covering various aspects of American
history and pre-history.
Five Points Archaeology
http://r2.gsa.gov/fivept/fphome.htm
This
web site provides an overview of archaeology conducted at Five Points in New
York City and also includes a virtual exhibit of the artifacts found
there. The “Feature Artifacts” portion
of the site showcases photos and basic information about the types of artifacts
found in an urban context dating from the late 18th century through
the 19th century.
Historic Glass Bottle Dating and
Identification Web Site
http://www.blm.gov/historic_bottles/index.htm
This web site is a
work-in-progress with the ultimate goal of being able to answer questions about
the date, use, and manufacturing technology of bottles produced in the United
States and Canada between 1850 and 1950.
Though it is not entirely complete, it currently offers a wealth of information
about bottle identification, manufacture, typology, and dating.
Colony of Avalon Artifacts Web Site
http://www.heritage.nf.ca/avalon/artifacts/default.html
Avalon was colony
in Ferryland, New Foundland founded in 1621 by Lord Baltimore. The artifact portion of this web site offers
an opportunity to view and learn more about some of the artifacts recovered at
Avalon.
Evolution of English Ceramics
http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/313/ceramics/period-1.htm
This web site was
created for the nautical archaeology department at Texas A&M
University. It includes an illustrated overview
of English ceramic types from the 1600-1900s.
Jamestown Ceramics Research Group
http://www.apva.org/resource/jcrg.html
The Jamestown Ceramics Research Group was formed to identify
and define ceramic ware types that appear on sites in Jamestown, Virginia and
vicinity. This web site currently has a
focus on 17th century ceramics, but may later be expanded to include
ceramics of other time periods.
Historical Archaeology Digital Type
Collection at the Florida Museum of Natural History
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/histarch/gallery_types/
This web site provides
a digital type collection for historic ceramics dating 1492-1850. It includes an interactive “identify your
sherd” feature, which allows you to input basic information about your ceramic
artifact in order to identify it. There
is also a browseable portion of the site that includes a broad range of ceramic
types, including photographs, dates, and other information.
Twentieth-Century Artifacts Web Site
http://groups.msn.com/20thCenturyArtifacts/datingguide.msnw
This web site
offers information about artifacts of the more recent past. It includes basic
dating information about objects such as beer cans, bottles, plastics, and
other types of relatively modern artifacts that are found on archaeological
sites.
General Information about
Delaware Archaeology
Delaware Archaeology Month
May is Delaware Archaeology
Month. This web site provides
information about events and activities that take place during Archaeology
Month. It also includes links to
archaeological organizations and resources in Delaware.
DelDOT Archaeology
http://www.deldot.gov/static/projects/archaeology/index.html
The DelDOT
archaeology and historic preservation web site features the archaeological
projects that have been completed in association with DelDOT projects. It includes a list of projects and
archaeological reports for sites in Delaware.
Delaware State Historic Preservation Office
http://www.state.de.us/shpo/information/points/start.shtml
The
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) works
to identify, study, and record Delaware's historic buildings, structures,
objects, districts, landscapes, and archaeological sites. They offer awareness
activities that educate the public on the importance of preserving and
protecting privately owned historic buildings and archaeological sites. Among other things, the SHPO web site
includes an on-line guide to classifying Native American projectile points.
New Castle Community History and Archaeology
Program
A web site with
calendar, upcoming events, resources, and other information for the Community
History and Archaeology Program is currently in the works. You will find a link to the temporary site on
the personal web page of New Castle resident, Jim Meek.