In the wake of my posting of a partial bibliography of sources in the
archaeological, historical and technical literature on leather
tanning, I have had several requests to post it on-line. The bibliography,
expanded to include additional sources, may now be accessed at:
 
http://www.city-net.com/~davidsr/leatherbib.htm
 
There are some gaps in it because my main files are back in Pittsburgh --
I'm teaching in Philadelphia this semester and do not have all of my
database. I will update the on-line version once I have a chance to return
home.
 
One word of caution regarding the archaeological sources: Many of them
should be used with caution because the authors -- my early work included
-- failed to grasp the complexity of the craft and tended to overlook
issues of specialization that played a key role in the material culture
and archaeological expression of tannery sites. Although
specialization is not a critical issue on Colonial leather sites,
after 1820, especially in the Northeastern US, it is particularly
essential. Perhaps the greatest failure by archaeologists who have forayed
into the leather industry has been in addessing issues of the social
dynamics, e.g., craft dynasties, that dominated the craft in the US from
the Colonial period well into the 20th century.
 
 
David Rotenstein
_______________________________________
David S. Rotenstein, Ph.D.
E-MAIL: [log in to unmask]
WWW: http://www.city-net.com/~davidsr/crm.htm