University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 1-1-2015 An Analysis of Modified Material Culture from Amache: Investigating the Landscape of Japanese American Internment Paul Swader University of Denver Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Swader, Paul, "An Analysis of Modified Material Culture from Amache: Investigating the Landscape of Japanese American Internment" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 634. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/634 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. An Analysis of Modified Material Culture from Amache: Investigating the Landscape of Japanese American Internment ___________ A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Social Sciences University of Denver ___________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts ___________ by Paul Swader March 2015 Advisor: Dr. Bonnie Clark ©Copyright by Paul Swader 2015 All Rights Reserved Author: Paul Swader Title: An Analysis of Modified Material Culture from Amache: Investigating the Landscape of Japanese American Internment Advisor: Bonnie Clark Degree Date: March 2015 ABSTRACT Modified material culture is a class of objects that indicates a transformation of material function. Archaeological research at the Japanese American internment camp in Granada, Colorado, called Amache, has recently uncovered artifacts featuring evidence of modification. Previous studies at internment camps have failed to include a comprehensive analysis of these artifacts; instead focusing on formal materials or aesthetic objects. This thesis investigates an assemblage of modified material culture identified at Amache and a collection from the Minidoka internment camp in Idaho. These artifacts provide insight into how internees responded to imprisonment. Through material culture studies, oral histories, and archival research, the use of these artifacts is examined within a context of confinement. This collection helps construct an internee landscape from which we may better understand the relationship between internee agency and internment social structure. In addition, by studying this evidence of adaptation this research aims to highlight the ingenuity of Japanese American internees and their ability to adapt and overcome the inhumane treatment experienced in the camp. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Significance..................................................................................................................... 2 Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2: Background ....................................................................................................... 6 The Early History of Japanese in America ..................................................................... 6 Japanese Immigration ................................................................................................. 6 Steps toward Internment ............................................................................................. 8 History of Internment .................................................................................................... 10 Relocation Centers .................................................................................................... 13 The Granada Relocation Center .................................................................................... 14 Moving In.................................................................................................................. 16 The Camp .................................................................................................................. 16 Loyalty and the War Effort ....................................................................................... 20 Camp Closure............................................................................................................ 21 The Site Today .............................................................................................................. 22 Minidoka Internment Center ......................................................................................... 23 Previous Research ......................................................................................................... 23 Availability of Resources .............................................................................................. 25 Theoretical Background ................................................................................................ 26 Chapter 3: Methods ........................................................................................................... 27 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 27 Surface Survey Methods ............................................................................................... 29 Artifacts..................................................................................................................... 30 Features ..................................................................................................................... 31 Geographic Information System Methods .................................................................... 32 Ground-Penetrating Radar Methods ............................................................................. 33 Use and Background ................................................................................................. 34 Collection Methods ................................................................................................... 36 Processing Methods .................................................................................................. 38 Excavation Methods...................................................................................................... 42 Lab Methods ................................................................................................................. 43 Minidoka Assemblage .................................................................................................. 45 Archival Research and Oral Histories........................................................................... 46 iii Chapter 4: Archaeological Findings and Collections Research ........................................ 49 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 49 Archaeological Findings: 7G ........................................................................................ 49 Surface Survey .......................................................................................................... 51 Ground-Penetrating Radar ........................................................................................ 53 Excavation................................................................................................................. 54 Archaeological Findings 12G ....................................................................................... 60 Surface Survey .......................................................................................................... 60 Archaeological Findings 12H ....................................................................................... 61 Surface Survey .......................................................................................................... 61 Ground-Penetrating Radar ........................................................................................ 65 Excavation................................................................................................................. 66 Archaeological Findings: 12K ...................................................................................... 69 Surface Survey .......................................................................................................... 69 Ground-Penetrating Radar ........................................................................................ 71 Excavation................................................................................................................. 75 Archaeological Findings: 12L....................................................................................... 80 Assessment of Field Methods ....................................................................................... 85 Minidoka Assemblage .................................................................................................. 85 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 88 Chapter 5: Use of Material Culture in the Context of Confinement ................................. 89 Material Culture Studies ............................................................................................... 89 Archaeology of Confinement ........................................................................................ 90 Context of