Richard F. Veit - Böcker

New interpretations of the Revolutionary War era in a wide-ranging collection of cutting-edge archaeology and interdisciplinary insights. Although the American Revolutionary War has been extensively studied by archaeologists, this volume is the first to take a holistic approach to this storied conflict, incorporating perspectives of the field and related disciplines. The Archaeology of the American Revolution draws on the expertise of a variety of scholars who move beyond the traditional focus on military camps, battlefields, and famous leaders to provide fresh insights into the war's broader impacts.This volume connects historical narratives with material culture, explores how cutting-edge archaeological methods like LiDAR and drone technology have illuminated previously undiscovered sites, and examines how material remnants and memorials shape the ways the war is remembered. The diversity of approaches in these chapters, including archaeology, public history, and forensic anthropology, offers brand-new perspectives on often-studied events. Topics range from the earliest days of the war in New England to the fighting in the mid-Atlantic and finally the partisan conflicts in the southern campaign. The research gathered in this volume is essential for understanding the multifaceted nature of the American Revolution and the many ways this era can be studied. In bringing together interdisciplinary contributions, this collection enhances, questions, and even contradicts accepted beliefs about the Revolution, offering valuable new interpretations of this critical period in American history.Contributors: Steven D. Smith Thomas Crist Wade P. Catts Saine C. Hernandez-Burgos Sean McHugh Garry Wheeler Stone Kim Arbogast McBride W. Stephen McBride Stephen D. Nagiewicz Joel Dukes Adam Heinrich Jennifer Janofsky Andrew M. Outten William A. Griswold Evan Mydlowski Michael C. Brown Richard Veit Matthew A Kalos Robert Selig Douglas D. Scott Joel R. Bohy M. Denise Dennis Steven Santucci Jaclyn Fischer Hillary A. DelPrete

When people think of archaeology, they commonly think of unearthing the remains of ancient civilizations in Egypt, Greece, Rome, Central or South America. But some fascinating history can be found in your own New Jersey backyard ¾ if you know where to look.Richard Veit takes readers on a well-organized guided tour through four hundred years of Garden State development as seen through archaeology in Digging New Jerseys Past. This illustrated guidebook takes readers to some of the states most interesting discoveries and tells us what has been learned or is being learned from them. The diverse array of archaeological sites, drawn from all parts of the state, includes a seventeenth-century Dutch trading post, the site of the Battle of Monmouth, the gravemarkers of freed slaves, and a 1920s railroad roundhouse, among others.Veit begins by explaining what archaeologists do: How do they know where to dig? What sites are likely to yield important information? How do archaeologists excavate a site? How are artifacts cataloged, stored, and interpreted? He then moves through the states history, from the contact of first peoples and explorers, to colonial homesteads, Revolutionary War battlefields, cemeteries, railroads, and factories. Veit concludes with some thoughts about the future of archaeological research in New Jersey and with suggestions on ways that interested individuals can become involved in the field.

From the earliest memorials used by Native Americans to the elaborate structures of the present day, Richard Veit and Mark Nonestied use grave markers to take an off-beat look at New Jersey’s history that is both fascinating and unique.New Jersey Cemeteries and Tombstones presents a culturally diverse account of New Jersey’s historic burial places from High Point to Cape May and from the banks of the Delaware to the ocean-washed Shore, to explain what cemeteries tell us about people and the communities in which they lived. The evidence ranges from somber seventeenth-century decorations such as hourglasses and skulls that denoted the brevity of colonial life, to modern times where memorials, such as a life-size granite Mercedes Benz, reflect the materialism of the new millennium. Also considered are contemporary novelties such as pet cemeteries and what they reveal about today’s culture. To tell their story the authors visited more than 1,000 burial grounds and interviewed numerous monument dealers and cemetarians.This richly illustrated book is essential reading for history buffs and indeed anyone who has ever wandered inquisitively through their local cemeteries.

New Jersey: A History of the Garden State presents a fresh, comprehensive overview of New Jersey’s history from the prehistoric era to the present. The findings of archaeologists, political, social, and economic historians provide a new look at how the Garden State has evolved.The state has a rich Native American heritage and complex colonial history. It played a pivotal role in the American Revolution, early industrialization, and technological developments in transportation, including turnpikes, canals, and railroads. The nineteenth century saw major debates over slavery. While no Civil War battles were fought in New Jersey, most residents supported it while questioning the policies of the federal government.Next, the contributors turn to industry, urbanization, and the growth of shore communities. A destination for immigrants, New Jersey continued to be one of the most diverse states in the nation. Many of these changes created a host of social problems that reformers tried to minimize during the Progressive Era. Settlement houses were established, educational institutions grew, and utopian communities were founded. Most notably, women gained the right to vote in 1920. In the decades leading up to World War II, New Jersey benefited from back-to-work projects, but the rise of the local Ku Klux Klan and the German American Bund were sad episodes during this period.The story then moves to the rise of suburbs, the concomitant decline of the state’s cities, growing population density, and changing patterns of wealth. Deep-seated racial inequities led to urban unrest as well as political change, including such landmark legislation as the Mount Laurel decision. Today, immigration continues to shape the state, as does the tension between the needs of the suburbs, cities, and modest amounts of remaining farmland.Well-known personalities, such as Jonathan Edwards, George Washington, Woodrow Wilson, Dorothea Dix, Thomas Edison, Frank Hague, and Albert Einstein appear in the narrative. Contributors also mine new and existing sources to incorporate fully scholarship on women, minorities, and immigrants. All chapters are set in the context of the history of the United States as a whole, illustrating how New Jersey is often a bellwether for the nation..