Archaeologies of African American Life in the Upper Mid-Atlantic

"Editors Gall and Veit offer a fascinating historical spectrum of regionally specific sites within African American archaeology. The collected works go above and beyond the initial goal of simply 'call[ing] attention to the historical contexts in which enslaved and free blacks lived, the obstacles they faced in daily life, and the ongoing power struggles within white dominated or controlled communities.' . . . A terrific addition to the study of African American archaeology. Highly recommended."
-CHOICE
 
"This is an important collection for at least two reasons. First, it expands the knowledge about African-American daily life. All books published on the subject in archaeology also make this contribution, and each is valuable for this reason alone. But in this particular case, readers are confronted with the reality that African captivity for the purposes of forced labour existed throughout the USA until the middle of the nineteenth century, and that African-Americans still faced significant challenges after emancipation. This book offers additional object lessons to shatter the silence that once surrounded the practice of human bondage in the American North."  
-American Antiquity
 
"This volume is an important regional contribution to the story of African Americans in a borderland that has been little studied. It uses the latest techniques of the growing field of historical archaeology to provide us with new insights on a critical part of American history."
-American Archaeology

"This volume is essential for scholars of African Americans, working class families, industrialization, capitalism, landscape organization, and consumerism. Past publications have often concentrated on the limitations of African American lives and achievements. Contemporary scholars highlight the agency of these marginalized groups-the talents, skills, and inspirational tactics that allowed these families to negotiate their lives, support one another, and express their identity in a highly racialized society. Together we strive for a more perfect union."
-Journal of Middle Atlantic Archaeology

"The first comprehensive look at the archaeology of African American sites in the Upper Mid-Atlantic. This volume should be well received by historical archaeologists of the African diaspora and historians alike."
-J. W. Joseph, president of the Society for Historical Archaeology and coeditor of Another's Country: Archaeological and Historical Perspectives on Cultural Interactions in the Southern Colonies

" . . . the combined fields of archaeology and history-inclusive of material culture-offer an excellent scholarly foray into the early lives of African Americans and the legacies that continue to resonate today."
-Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography