There were bone buttons (1-hole) made on site at Ft Johnson, Charleston SC, in War of 1812 and American Revolution contexts. Both finished products and "debitage" were found. They were not found in 1830s and 1840s deposits, BTW.  Link to report at 38ch69.com. Stan South had the same at Ft Moultrie, across the harbor in similar contexts.This is reported on in Palmetto Parapets, as Jim said.
 

 

Carl Steen
 

 

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Subject: Re: bone button production sites


There is an additional site from the Carib area I cannot remember but also "History Written With Pick and Shovel " Calver & Bolton , for rape & destroy data. The report on the Anderson Blacksmith Shop  in Williams burg has a lot of button waste. This was ca. 1977 for the 1975-1976 excavations where a room in the complex was used as a button shop. Off the top of my head I think Stan South's "Palmetto Parapets" has button material. 
 
Many of these sites appear to have military connections. The Anderson shop served as the armorer for a time. I think the site in Phil along the river was also the site of a major Rev. War encampment complex.  I had a file on the subject but cannot find at the present. 
 
Jim Parker 
 
-----Original Message----- 
From: Teagan Schweitzer <[log in to unmask]> 
To: HISTARCH <[log in to unmask]> 
Sent: Tue, Aug 2, 2011 8:53 am 
Subject: bone button production sites 
 
Hi all, 
 
I am a zooarchaeologist working with an assemblage from the early 19th 
century in Philadelphia in which there is evidence of bone button production 
- i.e. cow longbones with button blanks cut out of them. I am on the hunt 
for other assemblages of a similar time period with evidence for button 
production or other research you are aware of that addresses techniques for 
button production around this time. Any help you can offer would be greatly 
appreciated. 
 
Thanks! 
 
~ Teagan 
 
-- 
Dr. Teagan Schweitzer 
Department of Anthropology 
University of Pennsylvania