Thank you so much Mr. Lundin!  Terrific idea.  

Best Wishes
Meredith

Meredith A.B. Ellis, PhD
Assistant Professor of Anthropology

Anthropology Department
Florida Atlantic University
777 Glades Road, SO185
Boca Raton, Florida, 33431
[log in to unmask]
(561) 297-4768

www.springstreetarchaeologyproject.com


-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Richard Lundin
Sent: Friday, January 6, 2017 12:52 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Help with some early 20th century artifacts

Dr. Ellis:

I have found that if you look at the series of Montgomery Wards and Sears Roebuck catalogs from 1898-1934 in the notions sections you can get an approximate date\type range for buttons.  Also, in the  Intermountain NPS Artifact Catalog system is a guide to buttons and how to date them..
Harpers Ferry should have it on line.  I used it for my NAU students and it worked quite well.

The late Dr. Charles Hoffman and I used these resources for dating railroad and mining sites in Florida and Arizona in the 1990's.  Once you narrow the types down, then pXRF analyses should also prove use useful.  Dr. Claudia Brackett-Lundin and I did some pXRF analyses of buttons for graduate students at various SHA meetings in the US, UK, Mexico and Canada in the 90's,  Some of this thesis work MAY be published,

Best of Luck! If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to give me a call at the Confidence House number below:

Richard J. Lundin BA, MA, RPA, ISAP, AIPG Mineral Exploration Consultant, Professional Geologist (AIPG) & Permitting Specialist Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA) & Remote Sensing Specialist (ISAP)(Airbourne & Archaeogeophysics) Director, Wondjina Research Institute President & CEO, RICH ORE Mining, Inc.
President, Wombat Mining & Exploration Co.
Geologist & Agent, Oro Grande Mining Co.

Confidence House
22510 Confidence Rd.
Twain Harte CA 95383
(209) 586-5632





On Thu, Jan 5, 2017 at 8:44 AM, Meredith Ellis <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I'm a historical bioarchaeologist who was recommended to this listserv 
> for some help. I've inherited a small project that comes with a few 
> artifacts-parts of heels of at least two shoes and some large buttons.  
> I'm trying to confirm that the skeletal remains and these associated 
> artifacts are indeed early 20th century as some predecessor of mine 
> labeled them (I have no good provenance for the remains and artifacts, 
> or any indication of how they got that label, other than box labeling 
> itself that says "1928 hurricane victims").
>
> If anyone has any insight or can recommend an appropriate 
> expert/resource in artifacts of this nature from this time period, I 
> would greatly appreciate it. You can reach me at 
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> if you want to learn more and can help! I have images of the artifacts 
> that I can share with you via email or Dropbox if you contact me directly.
>
> Best Wishes
> Meredith
>
> Meredith A.B. Ellis, PhD
> Assistant Professor of Anthropology
>
> Anthropology Department
> Florida Atlantic University
> 777 Glades Road, SO185
> Boca Raton, Florida, 33431
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> (561) 297-4768
>
> www.springstreetarchaeologyproject.com<http://www.
> springstreetarchaeologyproject.com/>
>