Tuesday evening, 23 September
 
Don't know nothing 'bout crackers, but we did dig a well documented sawmill
site that contained a substantial rock- and dirt-built boiler base, steam 
engine mounts, blacksmith remains (of so-so quality), and artifacts from
the bunkhouse. The site, which was/is located in the Sierra Nevada
(mountains) of California, dated to the early 1880s. I went on ad nauseum 
about the steam engine stuff in the report. Drop me a line if you're
interested.
 
Our research design used the definition of "industrial archaeology" in good
old George Teague's dissertation as a starting point ("Industrial
archaeology  is.... the study of the material remains of the workplace and
the worker... it investigates the facts, conditions, and consequences of
industry"). I've always thought that it is too bad that this idea that both
industrial workers *and* technology belong under the heading of IA hasn't 
really caught on  (take a look at the definition of IA  in the brand
spanking new "Oxford Companion to Archaeology" and you'll see what I mean).
 
Regards to all friends out there in HISTARCH land,
 
Adrian Praetzellis
Sonoma State University
California, USA