Despite the fact that Middletown is a UNESCO Site of Memory and is home to many preserved historical sites, there has been little archaeological excavation, documentation, and storytelling specifically focused on extant industrialization, weaponry, and carceral artifacts dating to the Revolutionary War and early industrial eras. History and Archaeology of Industrial Connecticut will explore the rich history of industrial sites in Middletown and surrounding regions of Connecticut. Students will learn about historical and archaeological methods for the study of past material culture, landscapes, and environments, focusing on how objects and sites can reveal hidden traces of Middletown’s ties to agricultural, textile, munitions, and other forms of industrial production over the last few hundred years. Students will participate in field work and produce a public-facing online exhibit, physical exhibit, or public outreach activity based on their research. This course is supported by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.
Wesleyan Archaeology Program faculty Kate Birney, Katherine Brunson, and Jayson Peter Gill with their new Leica Geosystems total station. It will be put to work for this new course thanks to a grant from the Mellon Foundation.