Archaeology, Magic, and the Gendered Control of Domestic Boundaries in New England, 1620-1725

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Archaeology, Magic, and the Gendered Control of Domestic Boundaries in New England, 1620-1725 University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2013 Silent Sentinels: Archaeology, Magic, and the Gendered Control of Domestic Boundaries in New England, 1620-1725 C. Riley Auge The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Auge, C. Riley, "Silent Sentinels: Archaeology, Magic, and the Gendered Control of Domestic Boundaries in New England, 1620-1725" (2013). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 884. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/884 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SILENT SENTINELS: ARCHAEOLOGY, MAGIC, AND THE GENDERED CONTROL OF DOMESTIC BOUNDARIES IN NEW ENGLAND, 1620-1725 By CYNTHIA KAY RILEY AUGÉ Master of Arts, Greenwich University, Norfolk Island, South Pacific, 2002 Bachelor of Arts, The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 1992 Dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology, Cultural Heritage Studies The University of Montana Missoula, MT May 2013 Approved by: Sandy Ross, Associate Dean of The Graduate School Graduate School John Douglas, Ph.D., Chair Department of Anthropology Kelly J. Dixon, Ph.D. Department of Anthropology Richard Sattler, Ph.D. Department of Anthropology G. G. Weix, Ph.D. Department of Anthropology Ellen Baumler, Ph.D. Montana Historical Society COPYRIGHT by Cynthia Kay Riley Augé 2013 All Rights Reserved [2] Augé, C. Riley, Ph.D., May 2013 Anthropology Silent Sentinels: Archaeology, Magic, and the Gendered Control of Domestic Boundaries in New England, 1620-1725 Chairperson: Dr. John Douglas Abstract Content: The following dissertation is an historical archaeological study of the material culture of gendered protective magic used by Anglo-Europeans in seventeenth-century New England as a tactic to construct boundaries that mitigated perceived personal, social, spiritual, and environmental dangers. Such boundary construction was paramount in the seventeenth-century battle between good and evil epitomized by the belief in and struggle against witchcraft. This dissertation sought to answer three interrelated research questions: 1) What constitutes protective magical material culture in seventeenth-century contexts and how is it recognizable in the archaeological record? 2) What signifies gender specific protective magical practices and what can these differences relate about gender roles, identity, and social relationships? and 3) In what way and to what degree is the recourse to traditional beliefs significant in coping or risk management contexts? Synthesizing data from historical and folkloristic sources, and reviewing all accessible archaeological site reports and inventories from State Historic Preservation offices and principal site investigators for domestic structures in New England ca. 1620-1725 provided data to catalog and develop a typology of potential magical items. Analyzing these data then allowed the assessment of domestic and gendered patterns of magical risk management strategies. Magical content was frequently embedded within or symbolically encoded in architectural or artifactual details, whose gendered association tended to correspond with gender role activities or responsibilities; however, the general omission of magical interpretations in historical archaeology limits the visibility of potentially magical objects in site reports and inventories, so it is likely a wider range of materials and contexts exist. The final result of this dissertation was the construction of a criterion model for the identification and interpretation of magic in historical archaeological contexts, which extends the notion of ritual from specialized places and materials, and communal behaviors to include quotidian objects and settings, and individual practices. Ultimately, the results of this dissertation extend the field of the archaeology of ritual and magic in particular, and the broader field of archaeology more generally by providing theoretical and methodological tools for understanding and recognizing how magical belief contributes to physical and metaphoric boundary construction and maintenance. [3] ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Time and space limit my ability to officially credit all those who have been instrumental to my overall success and specifically to my present undertaking. The first person to whom I owe a debt of gratitude is Dr. Henry Harrington who planted the germ of doctoral aspiration in my head on my last day as an undergraduate in his Victorian British Literature class many years ago here at UM. My life has taken a long and circuitous route, but I found my way back to the University of Montana to fulfill the dream Dr. Harrington first inspired. Dr. Kelly Dixon’s enthusiasm and support for and confidence in my abilities have opened important and challenging new doors for me for which I will be eternally grateful. I would not be where I am now were it not for her. To Dr. G.G. Weix and Dr. Richard Sattler I extend heartfelt thanks for their time and commitment to my success through their rigorous academic expectations. As my non-departmental committee members, I could not have hoped for a greater expert in his field than Dr. Kenneth Lockridge to share his knowledge, insights, and passion for historical inquiry; and Dr. Ellen Baumler for her enthusiasm and otherworldly perspectives. Throughout the entire process, Dr. John Douglas, although originally designated as a surrogate advisor, has proven to be an invaluable guide and facilitator ever ready and willing to offer constructive critiques of my work to push me to greater heights of achievement. To all I offer sincere thanks for their generous gifts of expertise, mentoring, and patience. I would also like to acknowledge others who have assisted me with the acquisition of source materials or have read and/or listened to my ideas as they have coalesced into this dissertation. Many thanks go to Donna McCrea of Mansfield Library; Rolene Schliesman of the Montana Historical Society; my fellow graduate students and colleagues, Helen Keremedijiev, Bethany Campbell, Matt Walsh, and Mary Bobbitt; my academic colleagues engaged in the [4] archaeology of ritual and magic, Dr. Owen Davies, Dr. Christopher Fennell, Brian Hoggard, M. Chris Manning, and Dr. Ian Evans; my sounding boards, kindred spirits, inspirations, and dear friends, Ann Atkins, Melanie Knadler, and Louis Sexty; Riley Workman, Ronald Newbury, and Amanda Atkins for their time and efforts proofreading various drafts; to Caitlin Sterchi for the beautiful original artwork painted expressly for this dissertation; and the numerous interested parties who have attended my conference presentations and provided feedback. No expression of my gratitude would be complete without mention of the event and associated people that literally changed my academic and personal life and set me on the course that eventually lead me to my present pursuit. I am forever indebted to Drs. Robin Reid, Judy Ford, and Verlyn Flieger and the NEH Tolkien Summer Institute for showing me a new path. As grateful and indebted as I am to all the aforementioned people, my greatest and most heartfelt appreciation goes to my family: to my parents for instilling in me a profound sense of personal, familial, and social obligation, for teaching me what is truly important in life, for encouraging me to always strive for excellence by reaching for the stars without losing a firm footing on the ground, and for enfolding me in their generous and boundless love and support through all my life’s ups and downs; to my elder son, Peter Newbury, whose quiet reserve conceals a creative force and fierce integrity that endlessly surprise and inspire me; to my daughter-in-law, Bobbie Newbury, for providing a model for determination and perseverance, and for her support and commiseration as we have both pursued doctoral degrees; to my granddaughters, Isa and Alora Newbury, for all the great adventures, road trips, and dancing in the rain that keep me young in body and spirit; and to my younger son, Riley Workman, whose thirst and talent for life radiate in his eyes and smile and brighten my world like a nova. I love you all more than words could ever express. [5] This dissertation is dedicated to my father, Donald A. Riley (1932-2011), the foundation of my life; and my brother, Robert W. Riley (1957-1991), my eternal best friend. [6] LIST OF MAPS, FIGURES, AND TABLES: MAPS Map 1.1: New England colonies Map 3.1: Origins of English colonists Map 3.2: Native settlements and trails Map 3.3: New England village type distribution Map 4.1: 17th-century New England domestic archaeology sites Map 5.1: Distribution of North American witch bottle finds FIGURES Figure 2.1: Witches exiting house through chimney Figure 2.2: Seventeenth-century house as embodied space Figure 2.3: Indian kolam Figure 2.4: Turkish evil eye bead Figure 2.5: Romanian embroidered door cloth Figure 2.6: Frontice piece, A Most Certain, Strange, and True Discovery of a Witch, John Hammond Figure 3.1: Christian trinity Figure 3.2: Sara Safford
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