Don, please forgive me for responding to your message via this list. I tried
to reply off line, but your provider keeps rejecting my reply.
On March 19th Don Merritt replied to my question about "southern-ness" in
the archaeological literature:
>Where are you from? Obviously, not from the south or you wouldn't be
asking that question. And don't pay any attention to
>the answers on the board, because they are also obviously from left field.
I would suggest that you do some participant
>observation, then you would not have any such silly questions.
My reply to you Don:
Did you not notice that live in Selma Alabama? -- and, hey, you can't get
much more southern that that! And I don't mean any weasely old border state
south, I mean the DEEP SOUTH. - I mean the last hold out of the OLD SOUTH.
.........Or, by "from," were you referring to my ancestors? hmmmmmm.
About your participant observation advice: as a matter of fact, I am rather
prideful about my skills as a participant observer , so, I am deeply
wounded by your "silly question" comment.
Now......tit for tat... where are YOU from? or should I say, in my best
southern accent: who's your momma's family, son? "Obviously" they are
not from the south, or your manners would have prevented you from calling my
question silly. <grin> Well, all I have to say to you is "Bless your
heart....." (and if you are truly a southerner, or a good participant
observer of the south, you WILL appreciate the deeper meaning of THAT
phrase! )
Please do explain why do you think my question was silly? In my mind,
"Southern," as a self imposed regional identity, has existed for at least
two centuries, so why is it silly to expect that someone has tried to
address this archaeologically? - to investigate what "southern" really is?
Afterall, archaeologists have written much about groups using material
culture to express group identity and to promote in-group solidarity. (a
helpful listserve member referred to Martin Wobst in this regard).
Personally, I think of Southern culture as a fluid yet identifiable mix of
kinship, "race," religion, agriculture and icons -- all topics that have
been addressed by archaeologists before. I'm not expecting anyone to define
a Stanley South-type "Southern Pattern" but I also don't think it is silly
to wonder if the historical development of this mix of traits might not be
observed or even understood through the archaeological record.
Anxiously awaiting more about your point of view.
Linda Derry, Director
Old Cahawba - AHC
719 Tremont St.
Selma, AL 36701 - 5446
ph. 334/875-2529 / email: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Merritt [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 12:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: southern
Linda Derry, Director
Old Cahawba - AHC
719 Tremont St.
Selma, AL 36701 - 5446
ph. 334/875-2529 / email: [log in to unmask]
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of JOAN
> UNWIN
> Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 2:35 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: food and such
>
>
> Hello, from this side of the pond. I recently joined histarch - in time
> to be completely confused by the descriptions of diet, recipes and
> memories of food, some of which I had thought were inedible parts
> of skunk or something.
> Here in Sheffield, we still manufacture knives, forks and spoons
> and our research continues in the recording of varieties, processes
> and development of knives, etc. Please can I ask all you people
> what eating implements you used and what types of food
> preparation knives, spoons etc you had. Were any specific to
> eating clams or whatever ? Were any imported from here ? Do
> people have that 'special knive that grandma always used for ...'?
> Many thanks.
> Joan Unwin
> Joan Unwin,
> Research Associate,Hawley Project,
> University of Sheffield,
> c/o ARCUS,
> Department of Archaeology and Prehistory,
> Westcourt,
> 2 Mappin Street,
> Sheffield, S1 4ET,
> England
>
> Tel : 0114 222 7100
>
> http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/projects/hp
>
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