The Presentation of Self in Rural Life: The Use of Space at a Connected Farmstead

Abstract

Archaeological investigation at the Pettengill farmstead site, a mid-19th-century connected farmstead in southern New Hampshire, prompted questions regarding the use of divided spaces, along with associated economic and social implications. During the 19th century, nearly 60% of the farmsteads constructed in northern New England were built with the principal farm structures connected into a single sprawling block. this shift away from a disconnected arrangement was an attempt at increasing efficiency while maintaining a traditional way of life in the face of increased competition from western farms. By connecting the farmstead, farmers visually and functionally divided spaces, both utilitarian and symbolic. When combined with documentary evidence, this site illustrates how the arrangement of the farmstead space affected the Pettengills’ presentation of themselves to their community.