About the book
Investigating ceramic artifacts to better understand daily life in the French colonial Caribbean
Ceramics serve as one of the best-known artifacts excavated by archaeologists. They are carefully described, classified, and dated, but rarely do scholars consider their many and varied uses. Breaking from this convention, Myriam Arcangeli examines potsherds from four colonial sites in the Antillean island of Guadeloupe to discover what these everyday items tell us about the people who used them. In the process, she reveals a wealth of information about the lives of the elite planters, the middle and lower classes, and enslaved Africans.
By analyzing how the people of Guadeloupe used ceramics—whether jugs for transporting and purifying water, pots for cooking, or pearlware for eating—Arcangeli spotlights the larger social history of Creole life. What emerges is a detail rich picture of water consumption habits, changing foodways, and concepts of health. Sherds of History offers a compelling and novel study of the material record and the “ceramic culture” it represents to broaden our understanding of race, class, and gender in French-colonial societies in the Caribbean and the United States.
Arcangeli’s innovative interpretation of the material record will challenge the ways archaeologists analyze ceramics.
Editions of Sherds of History
- PDF
- ISBN 9780813055206
Read an Excerpt
Investigating ceramic artifacts to better understand daily life in the French colonial Caribbean
Ceramics serve as one of the best-known artifacts excavated by archaeologists. They are carefully described, classified, and dated, but rarely do scholars consider their many and varied uses. Breaking from this convention, Myriam Arcangeli examines potsherds from four colonial sites in the Antillean island of Guadeloupe to discover what these everyday items tell us about the people who used them. In the process, she reveals a wealth of information about the lives of the elite planters, the middle and lower classes, and enslaved Africans.
By analyzing how the people of Guadeloupe used ceramics—whether jugs for transporting and purifying water, pots for cooking, or pearlware for eating—Arcangeli spotlights the larger social history of Creole life. What emerges is a detail rich picture of water consumption habits, changing foodways, and concepts of health. Sherds of History offers a compelling and novel study of the material record and the “ceramic culture” it represents to broaden our understanding of race, class, and gender in French-colonial societies in the Caribbean and the United States.
Arcangeli’s innovative interpretation of the material record will challenge the ways archaeologists analyze ceramics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sherds of History about?
Investigating ceramic artifacts to better understand daily life in the French colonial Caribbean
Ceramics serve as one of the best-known artifacts excavated by archaeologists. They are carefully described, classified, and dated, but rarely do scholars consider their many and varied uses. Breaking from this convention, Myriam Arcangeli examines potsherds from four colonial sites in the Antillean island of Guadeloupe to discover what these everyday items tell us about the people who used them. In the process, she reveals a wealth of information about the lives of the elite planters, the middle and lower classes, and enslaved Africans.
By analyzing how the people of Guadeloupe used ceramics—whether jugs for transporting and purifying water, pots for cooking, or pearlware for eating—Arcangeli spotlights the larger social history of Creole life. What emerges is a detail rich picture of water consumption habits, changing foodways, and concepts of health. Sherds of History offers a compelling and novel study of the material record and the “ceramic culture” it represents to broaden our understanding of race, class, and gender in French-colonial societies in the Caribbean and the United States.
Arcangeli’s innovative interpretation of the material record will challenge the ways archaeologists analyze ceramics.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Sherds of History?
History and Archaeology > Archaeology
Where can I read a sample of Sherds of History?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780813055206
How long is Sherds of History and how many pages does it have?
Sherds of History has 256 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Sherds of History?
Myriam Arcangeli
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Sherds of History is available as pdf(ISBN 9780813055206)
Where can I buy Sherds of History online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Sherds of History from below
Where can I buy Sherds of History?