Abstract
Research on periods prior to the early modern has examined alcohol production as well as the social implications of its consumption in ritual, feasting, and social negotiation; historical archaeological research, however, often focuses largely on the economic and dietary significance of alcohol consumption. Archaeological analyses of vessel assemblages from a tavern within the 17th- through 19th-century fishing village on Smuttynose Island in the Isles of Shoals, Maine, and from several of the saloons at the 19th-century mining town of Highland City, Montana, revealed evidence of imported alcohol drinks and drink paraphernalia. These artifacts vary in quality, quantity, and variety from the assemblages of domestic consumption at the site, which contain typical domestic wares. The ceramics and glassware containing expensive alcohols are found only in drinking spaces and not in the home. Commensal politics and the sociability associated with alcohol persisted through the early modern and modern periods within drinking spaces, namely taverns and saloons, and this is reflected within this artifact assemblage.
Resumen
La investigación sobre períodos anteriores a la edad moderna temprana ha examinado la producción de alcohol, así como las implicaciones sociales de su consumo en rituales, banquetes y negociaciones sociales. Sin embargo, la investigación arqueológica histórica a menudo se centra en gran medida en la importancia económica y dietética del consumo de alcohol. Los análisis arqueológicos de conjuntos de embarcaciones de una taberna dentro de la aldea de pescadores de los siglos XVII al XIX en la isla Smuttynose en las islas de Shoals, Maine, y de varias de las tabernas en la ciudad minera del siglo XIX de Highland City, Montana, han revelado evidencia de parafernalia de bebidas y bebidas alcohólicas importadas. Estos artefactos varían en calidad, cantidad y variedad de los conjuntos de consumo doméstico en el sitio, que contienen artículos domésticos típicos. La cerámica y la cristalería que contienen alcoholes costosos se encuentran solo en los espacios para beber y no en el hogar. La política comensal y la sociabilidad asociada con el alcohol persistieron durante los períodos moderno temprano y moderno dentro de los espacios para beber, es decir, tabernas y cantinas, y esto se refleja en este conjunto de artefactos.
Résumé
La recherche sur des périodes antérieures au début de l’ère moderne s’est intéressée à la production d’alcool ainsi qu’aux implications sociales de sa consommation dans le cadre de rituels, de festins et d’interactions sociales. Cependant, la recherche archéologique historique s’attache souvent largement à la signification économique et alimentaire de la consommation d’alcool. Les analyses archéologiques d’assemblages de récipients provenant d’une taverne dans un village de pêcheurs entre le 17ème et le 19ème siècle sur l’Île de Smuttynose dans les Îles de Shoals, Maine et de plusieurs des saloons dans la ville minière du 19ème siècle de Highland City, Montana, ont mis en évidence la présence de boissons alcoolisées importées et d’articles de boisson. Ces artéfacts varient quant à leur qualité, leur quantité et leur variété pour ce qui relève des assemblages de consommation domestique sur le site, lesquels contiennent des objets domestiques typiques. Les céramiques et les récipients de verre contenant des alcools coûteux sont trouvés uniquement dans les débits de boissons et non dans les demeures. Les règles de commensalité et la sociabilité associées à l’alcool ont persisté tout au long des périodes des débuts de l’ère moderne et par la suite au sein des débits de boissons, à savoir les tavernes et les saloons et ceci se reflète dans cet assemblage d’artéfacts.
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Acknowledgments:
This article benefited greatly from comments by Ian Hodder and Barbara L. Voss. Special thanks go to Anne Benear for her support. The author would like to thank the following for assistance with assemblage identification: Nathan Hamilton, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Marley Brown III, and Henry Wright. Thanks also to the Shoals Marine Laboratory, the United States Forest Service, Tammy Cherullo, Nancy McQuinn, Danielle Moretti-Langholtz, and Neil L. Norman. This work was supported by the Daniel Carl Maier Fund Scholarship from the University of Michigan. Additionally, this research was supported by the following from the College of William and Mary: the Michael R. Halleran Dissertation Completion Fellowship, the Dean’s Research Fund for Doctoral Students, the Graduate Fellowship in Anthropology, and the Anthropology Department Summer Research Funding.
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This work was supported by the Daniel Carl Maier Fund Scholarship, from the University of Michigan. Additionally, this research was supported by the following from the College of William and Mary: the Michael R. Halleran Dissertation Completion Fellowship, the Dean’s Research Fund for Doctoral Students, the Graduate Fellowship in Anthropology, and the Anthropology Department Summer Research Funding.
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Victor, M.R. An Examination of Alcohol and Commensal Politics within Taverns and Saloons of Resource-Extraction Communities. Hist Arch 56, 301–323 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41636-021-00316-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41636-021-00316-1