Slave Life at Madison’s Montpelier: Comparing Field and House Slave Quarters

Laura Weiner, Oberlin College

Location

Science Center, K209

Document Type

Presentation

Start Date

4-24-2015 2:45 PM

End Date

4-24-2015 3:45 PM

Abstract

My time at James Madison’s estate inspired this project, as I became enthralled by the disparity between Madison as the “Father of the Constitution” and the slave quarters I was excavating. Understanding the quality of life of enslaved peoples entails an examination of the existing material culture, since it is rarely represented in written accounts. Through the lens of historical archaeology I analyzed material culture at Montpelier excavated from the field and house slave quarters, respectively, to derive a clearer picture of slaves’ quality of life on the plantation and unique features such as slave resistance and Afrocentrism.

Notes

Session 2, Panel 12 - The Production of Space: Studies of Physical and Discursive Boundaries
Moderator: Susan Colley, Delaney Professor of Mathematics

Major

Archaeology; Sociology

Advisor(s)

Greggor Mattson, Sociology
Susan Kane, Archaeology

Project Mentor(s)

Susan Kane, Archaeology

April 2015

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Apr 24th, 2:45 PM Apr 24th, 3:45 PM

Slave Life at Madison’s Montpelier: Comparing Field and House Slave Quarters

Science Center, K209

My time at James Madison’s estate inspired this project, as I became enthralled by the disparity between Madison as the “Father of the Constitution” and the slave quarters I was excavating. Understanding the quality of life of enslaved peoples entails an examination of the existing material culture, since it is rarely represented in written accounts. Through the lens of historical archaeology I analyzed material culture at Montpelier excavated from the field and house slave quarters, respectively, to derive a clearer picture of slaves’ quality of life on the plantation and unique features such as slave resistance and Afrocentrism.