Historical Archaeology of the Revolutionary War Encampments of Washington's Army

Abstract

Historical Archaeology of the Revolutionary War Encampments of Washington’s Army presents archaeological and ethno-historic research concerning Washington’s Army’s encampments, trails, and support structures during the American Revolution. Important sites and preserves that the following chapters discuss include Valley Forge in Pennsylvania; Putnam Park and General Parson’s Preserve in Redding, Connecticut; Morristown National Historic Park in New Jersey; and Rochambeau’s marching trail through Connecticut. Topics pursued by contributors to the volume are the military discipline and training of soldiers; the routine activities of soldiers and officers; the special accommodations at George Washington’s headquarters at Valley Forge; the layouts and organizations of encampments; the participation of African descendants, Native peoples, and women in the war; and the historic technology used by soldiers to construct their winter quarters. The goals of this book are to demonstrate the usefulness of archaeology and ethno-history for scholarly research of the American Revolution, to provoke interest in the subject, and to convey the importance of protecting important cultural and historic resources. Additionally, the book demonstrates how creatively exploring new questions while applying advances in technology, methodology, and theory continues to provide new scholarly insights into both how the war was fought and what it meant to its participants. To all scholars interested in pursuing research into America’s Revolution, the book should also demonstrate that public outreach and information sharing is the real significance of any ongoing investigations, such as those presented here.