Another good example of Historical Archaeology being able to provide much
more information than documentary sources is the realm of African American
archaeology.  A great deal can be learned about the daily lives of African
Americans in rural and urban settings through the turn of the century and
often into at least the 1930's.
 
I personally worked on a project in Roanoke, Virginia involving the Historic
Gainsboro Neighborhood.  The phase III excavations were mostly limitted to
the area where the Burrell Pharmacy had once operated.  The other areas which
were slated to be destroyed by development were deemed "inconsequential".
 Even the pharmacy site was originally written off by the powers that by as
not having the necessary research potential.
 
A few of the more interesting things which were never recorded in the
historic record were discovered during the analysis of this site's artifacts.
 During the period of the pharmacy's operation, most professional doctor's
and pharmacists had realized that "patent" medicines were not good medicine
and were often harmful.  Even though Dr. Burrell was a practicing medical
doctor, as well as a pharmacist, his pharmacy was well stocked with most of
the popular "patent" medicines available on the east coast.  We also foudn
evidence of the wide variety of prescriptions and medicines which he mixed
and concocted in the pharmacy.  Although it could have readily been assumed
that medicines were mixed in the pharmacy, no records exist of what was
available in this pharmacy.  In fact, no records exist from any of the
businesses which operated in the Davis Hotel building.
 
Even in the relatively modern and sophisticated City of Roanoke at the turn
of the century, many lives and neighborhoods went mostly undocumented.  And,
unfortunately, many of the present day developers and public officials would
rather that this would remain the case.  Often, there is as little truly
known about historic sites as there is about prehistoric sites.
 
Michael F. Barber ([log in to unmask])
Preservation Technologies, Inc.
P.O. Box 921
Salem, VA 24153
(703) 375-3128