The
things we buy and use express who we are, often revealing and
reinforcing our cultural or ethnic identity. Archeologists studying
material remains from the Robinson House gained insight into the ways
in which family members expressed their identity while negotiating their
position as African Americans during the turbulent 19th century.
Similar to people today, they expressed themselves in a variety
of ways—from clothing style and language to material
goods and architecture. Ceramic sherds and broken glass, for example,
provide clues to the family’s economic strategies and social aspirations
by indicating to archeologists the things they bought and used.
Like other 19th-century American families, the Robinsons
followed the dominant dining standards of the time. Rather than buying
entire china sets, they used a few refined ceramic dishes in the latest
style, and purchased similar pieces to complement them.
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