Archaeological Perspectives On and Contributions To the Study of Colonial American Gardens

Abstract

Archaeological excavations of colonial sites reveal both the diversity and uniformity characterizing colonial garden design. Although the American colonies stood on the periphery of Europe’s empires, colonists turned to British and continental designs in town planning, architecture, interior furnishings, and gardens. In adapting these designs, they sought to make statements about their political, economic, and social status, and their cultural identity as colonials. This article provides an overview of the insights revealed by archaeological excavations of specific sites. The article discusses both the material data and the historical interpretations offered by archaeologists working on the gardens of North American colonists in towns and cities, on farms and plantations in the North and South, at military fortifications, and in other institutional contexts.