Pre-contact archaeology at the William Trent House: a site-specific analysis and regional synthesis of Native American occupation in Trenton, NJ, 2019

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Ada

Identifier: b7930094

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate Anthropology program. The holdings are primarily bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of university 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 & Theses Global 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: 2019

Creator

Adamczyk, Richard P. (Richard Peter) (1995- ) (Author, Person)
Davidov, Veronica, 1978- (Thesis advisor, Person)
Veit, Richard F. (1968- ) (Thesis advisor, Person)
Hunter Research, Inc. (Trenton, N.J.) (Collaborator, Organization)

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) : 185 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

In 2019, Monmouth University's summer achaeological field school was conducted at the William Trent House in Trenton, NJ in collaboration with Hunter Research, Inc. This project supplemented earlier work by Hunter Research. These investigations revealed a robust prehistoric component that remains largely intact beneath layers of historic fill. An analysis of Native American material recovered from disturbed fills and natural soils reveals a primarily Late Archaic - Transnational Period transient camp situated along the Delwaware River near common North American travel routes. The site's focus was on seasonal terrestrial and aquatic resource procurement and processing. Limited evidence of Middle Archaic occupation has been recovered, and Woodland and Contact period components have also been identified. The site demonstrates a great diversity of activities represented by the relatively limited amount of material recovered from a small geographic area. The Trent House site was likely part of the Douglas Gut Archaeological Complex to the south and maintained a peripheral relationship with the Abbott Farm. Intact, stratified deposits were encountered and retain great interpretive potential for further work on the property.

Partial Contents

Abstract -- Table of contents -- List of figures, tables and photo plates -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Environmental context -- 3. General prehistoric background -- 4. Regional prehistoric background -- 5. Historic background -- 6. Previous fieldwork results -- 7. Research methodology -- 8. Fieldwork results -- 9. Material culture analysis -- 10. Synthesis -- 11. Conclusions and recommendations -- References cited -- Appendix: Artifact catalog.