In Small Things Forgotten: An Archaeology of Early American Life: Revised Edition

History is recorded in many ways. According to  author James Deetz, the past can be seen most fully  by studying the small things so often forgotten.  Objects such as doorways, gravestones, musical  instruments, and even shards of pottery fill in the  cracks between large historical events and depict  the intricacies of daily life. In his completely  revised and expanded edition of In Small  Things Forgotten, Deetz has added new  sections that more fully acknowledge the presence  of women and African Americans in Colonial  America. New interpretations of archaeological finds  detail how minorities influenced and were affected  by the development of the Anglo-American tradition  in the years following the settlers' arrival in  Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. Among Deetz's  observations:

Subtle changes in building long before the  Revolutionary War hinted at the growing independence  of the American colonies and their desire to be  less like the  British.

Records of estate auctions show that many  households in Colonial America contained only one  chair--underscoring the patriarchal nature of the  early American family. All other members of the  household sat on stools or the  floor.

The excavation of a tiny community of  freed slaves in Massachusetts reveals evidence of  the transplantation of African culture to North  America.

Simultaneously  a study of American life and an explanation of  how American life is studied, In Small  Things Forgotten, through the everyday  details of ordinary living, colorfully depicts a  world hundreds of years in the past.

History is recorded in many ways. According toauthor James Deetz, the past can be seen most fullyby studying the small things so often forgotten.Objects such as doorways, gravestones, musicalinstruments, and even shards of pottery fill in thecracks between large historical events and depictthe intricacies of daily life. In his completelyrevised and expanded edition of In SmallThings Forgotten, Deetz has added newsections that more fully acknowledge the presenceof women and African Americans in ColonialAmerica. New interpretations of archaeological findsdetail how minorities influenced and were affectedby the development of the Anglo-American traditionin the years following the settlers' arrival inPlymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. Among Deetz'sobservations:
Subtle changes in building long before theRevolutionary War hinted at the growing independenceof the American colonies and their desire to beless like theBritish.

Records of estate auctions show that manyhouseholds in Colonial America contained only onechair--underscoring the patriarchal nature of theearly American family. All other members of thehousehold sat on stools or thefloor.

The excavation of a tiny community offreed slaves in Massachusetts reveals evidence ofthe transplantation of African culture to NorthAmerica.
Simultaneouslya study of American life and an explanation ofhow American life is studied, In SmallThings Forgotten, through the everydaydetails of ordinary living, colorfully depicts aworld hundreds of years in the past."

Objects such as doorways, gravestones, musical instruments, and even shards of pottery fill in the cracks between large historical events and depict the intricacies of daily life. In his completely revised and expanded edition of In Small Things Forgotten, Deetz has added new sections that more fully acknowledge the presence of women and African Americans in Colonial America. New interpretations of archaeological finds detail how minorities influenced and were affected by the development of the Anglo-American tradition in the years following the settlers' arrival in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.

A fascinating study of American life and an explanation of how American life is studied through the everyday details of ordinary living, colorfully depicting a world hundreds of years in the past.

History is recorded in many ways. According to author James Deetz, the past can be seen most fully by studying the small things so often forgotten. Objects such as doorways, gravestones, musical instruments, and even shards of pottery fill in the cracks between large historical events and depict the intricacies of daily life. In his completely revised and expanded edition of In Small Things Forgotten, Deetz has added new sections that more fully acknowledge the presence of women and African Americans in Colonial America. New interpretations of archaeological finds detail how minorities influenced and were affected by the development of the Anglo-American tradition in the years following the settlers' arrival in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. Among Deetz's observations:

Subtle changes in building long before the Revolutionary War hinted at the growing independence of the American colonies and their desire to be less like the British.

Records of estate auctions show that many households in Colonial America contained only one chair--underscoring the patriarchal nature of the early American family. All other members of the household sat on stools or the floor.

The excavation of a tiny community of freed slaves in Massachusetts reveals evidence of the transplantation of African culture to North America.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 261-269) and index.