Charles Rau and the Keyport shell heap : understanding New Jersey's first archaeological excavation in its historic context, 2009

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis McH

Identifier: b2195473

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate History program. The holdings are bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Arts degree.

From the Collection:

During the fall 2022 semester (in instances where the requisite waivers were received from consenting student authors), the Monmouth University Library, together with the University's Graduate School and Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, began providing open access to select full-text digital versions of current theses and dissertations through links to the ProQuest Dissertations Publishing website in the Library's Online Public Access Catalog. Links to these open access digital publications can also be found in the "External Documents" section under any conforming titles that are listed among the holdings itemized in the collection inventory for this finding aid.

Dates

Creation: 2009

Creator

McHugh, Sean A. (1979- ) (Author, Person)
Veit, Richard F. (1968- ) (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (723-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Patrons must complete a Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to gain access to the collection holdings. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Extent

1 Items (print book) : 72 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Introduction [excerpts]

This thesis is a historical study of Charles Rau, a curator of archaeology at the National Museum of Natural History, and his archaeological excavation of the Keyport shell heaps. The purpose of this thesis is to examine Rau's role in the history of American archaeology and examine his excavations at the shell heaps in their historical contenxt. While Rau was widely known during his life, it appears that the perceived importance of his work has diminished over the years among historians of North American archaeology. While it is only natural that the relative importance of an individual fades with time, there are those individuals whose lives and works have been remembered and are still studied; Rau should be a part of the latter group, and unfortunately is not. Charles Rau is historically known for his pioneering work in classifying prehistoric artifacts, prior to this new method of classification many archaeologists of his time period heavily relied on European models of classification, whereby artifacts of the Stone Age were divided into two periods based upon method of production either chipped or polished. Rau found this method unusable, and established a method of classification by function, not production.

Even though Rau himself beleived that eventually scientific evidence would be produced that would allow the use of the European model of classification in North America, It [sic] was Rau who determined that its use was not applicable at that time. This work highlights Rau's scientific break with these European models and establishes that his work at Keyport was of true significance in the history of American archaeology.

This thesis begins by examing [sic] Rau's life and works in their historical context, and also describes the Keyport site he investigated and discuss [sic] the importance of the site and his work there. The key to understanding Rau's role in American archaeology is his first excavations at Keyport. Those excavations, conducted between 1863 and 1864, were the first formal archaeological study in the state of New Jersey. His work there was a part of the great scientific struggle of his day, to establish the antiquity of man in the North American continent, and is still of great importance to archaeologists interested in ancient coastal adaptations.

Partial Contents

1. Introduction -- 2. The life and work of Charles Rau -- 3. Rau's work in the context of his time : 19th century American anthropology -- 4. History and archaeology of shell heaps -- 5. Archaeological investigations at the Keyport shell heaps -- 6. Conclusions -- Bibliography.