Syracuse University SURFACE Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Anthropology - Dissertations Affairs 5-2013 Technological Adaptation on the Frontier: An Examination of Blacksmithing at Fort Michilimackinac, 1715-1781 Amy S. Roache-Fedchenko Syracuse University Follow this and additional works at: https://surface.syr.edu/ant_etd Part of the Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Roache-Fedchenko, Amy S., "Technological Adaptation on the Frontier: An Examination of Blacksmithing at Fort Michilimackinac, 1715-1781" (2013). Anthropology - Dissertations. 101. https://surface.syr.edu/ant_etd/101 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at SURFACE. It has been accepted for inclusion in Anthropology - Dissertations by an authorized administrator of SURFACE. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Abstract This research examines the blacksmith and his work within the 18th century fur trade community at Fort Michilimackinac (1715-1781). Located at the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, this fortified trading post was important to the French (1715-1760) and British (1761-1781) fur trade economies in North America. Archaeological data and historic documents describing the use, trade, and demand for iron products at Fort Michilimackinac are used to understand the blacksmith and his work within the 18th century fur trade frontier and the wider socioeconomic landscape of which he was part. Blacksmiths were essential in supporting the material needs of frontier communities and the technological adaptations necessitated by frontier conditions are examined through the archaeological remains of the blacksmith workshops at Fort Michilimackinac, as well as metal artifacts found across the site. A model for identifying blacksmithing activities within workshops was applied to archaeological data from Fort Michilimackinac and three blacksmith workshops were identified. These are described in terms of the archaeological features represented and their spatial attributes. Several artifact groups were selected for analysis based on trade records and other historic documents that described their local production and/or repair at the fort. Trends in repair methods and potential technological adaptations of blacksmithing techniques exhibited by these repairs are identified. Portable x-ray fluorescence analysis was used to further examine traits of frontier metals and identify types of artifacts that were likely produced by the blacksmiths at Fort Michilimackinac. By examining the blacksmith and his work, this research contributes to a holistic understanding of the fur trade frontier and the importance of individuals and craftsmen, like the blacksmith, within the communities that aided the continued success of the fur trade and European expansion in North America. TECHNOLOGICAL ADAPTATION ON THE FRONTIER: AN EXAMINATION OF BLACKSMITHING AT FORT MICHILIMACKINAC, 1715-1781 By Amy S. Roache-Fedchenko B.A. Michigan State University 2004 M.A. Syracuse University 2007 DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology in the Graduate School of Syracuse University May 2013 Copyright 2013 Amy S. Roache-Fedchenko All Rights Reserved Acknowledgements I could not have made the accomplishments in my professional and personal life that I have thus far without the love, help and support of family, friends, and colleagues. My parents, Pam Gincel and Jim Roache, encouraged a love of learning and a desire to explore. Throughout my adolescence, my dad would spend hours in the book store with me and my sister, then take us out on adventures, which usually involved tromping through woods or fishing at the nearby reservoir. My mom’s love, kind words, encouragement through all the ups and downs that go with life and academic pursuits, and the celebration of each one of my accomplishments, gave me strength to finish this research and writing. Chuck Gincel, my step-dad, has also been extremely supportive throughout this endeavor. I appreciate all the care and encouragement that my late mother-in-law, Marilyn Mason, gave to me and my family. My sister, Amanda Roache, consistently challenged me to think about life experiences differently and to understand the world beyond what I am able to perceive. Thank you for everything. I also could not have completed this chapter in my life without the love and support of my husband, Nick Fedchenko. With all the patience in the world, he helped me accomplish everything I have set out to do during the past eight years that it has taken me to complete my doctorate. Insisting that I read, bringing me a hot meal after I’ve sequestered myself to my academic work, making me laugh when I have had the veil of seriousness enshrouding my every thought, and taking care of our children when I leave for days to attend conferences or visit archives, are among the many things that Nick has done to help further the development of my research and career. My children Nico and v Drago remind me to be patient with life, force me to take breaks so I can come back eager to do more, and help me remember to always pursue what I love. I love and cherish you all. Thank you for all you have done, the sacrifices you have made, and the love and humor that you have brought to my life. This research could also not have been completed without the guidance and advice of my committee, Theresa Singleton, Douglas Armstrong, Shannon Novak, and Lynn Evans. They have provided valuable feedback and insight throughout my graduate career. Their questions and comments have improved my ability to analyze, interpret, and write. Thank you for fostering these skills which are vital to my continued success. I am also particularly grateful to my advisor and mentor, Christopher DeCorse for all that he has done for me throughout this endeavor, some of which I know I will never be cognizant. The questions and challenges that he put before me helped to enrich my thinking and understanding of my own research and made me realize the potential for inquiry that I have inside me. His passion to teach and unquenchable desire to explore, inspire me and have helped to shape my vision of my future. I cannot express how appreciative I am to have had you as my advisor and mentor. Rachel Horlings, Holly Norton, Stephan Lenik, Liza Gijanto, Zach Beier, Meredith Ellis, Rachel Collins and Elvin Delgado have all contributed feedback and much needed commiseration. At various times throughout this pursuit, they have helped to reignite my passion in archaeology and love of research. This research was also made possible through support from the Mackinac State Historic Parks, the Society for Industrial Archaeology Industrial Heritage Preservation vi Grant, the Bruker Corporation, and the Maxwell School of Citizenship Roscoe-Martin Grant. vii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ..............................................................................................................v Table of Figures....................................................................................................................xi Chapter 1: Introduction .....................................................................................................1 Technology and Material Adaptation of 18th Century Blacksmithing ...........................2 Theoretical Framework ....................................................................................................6 Technology .....................................................................................................................7 Labor ..............................................................................................................................12 Frontier Adaptation ........................................................................................................15 Methodology of this Research ..........................................................................................18 Documentary Source Material .......................................................................................18 Archaeology ....................................................................................................................19 Portable X-ray Fluorescence Analysis ...........................................................................22 Framework of the Dissertation ........................................................................................24 Chapter 2: The North American Fur Trade and Fort Michilimackinac .......................26 The Fur Trade in the Western Great Lakes ....................................................................26 Contextualizing 18th Century Blacksmithing ..................................................................40 Blacksmithing at Frontier Fur Trade Posts ....................................................................49 Chapter 3: Global to Frontier: the Historical Context of Iron and Modeling its Use on the Frontier in North America ..........................................................................53 Iron Working in Colonial North America .......................................................................53 Raw Material and Frontier Smithing ..............................................................................63 Modeling Spatial Characteristics of the Frontier Blacksmith Workshop ......................68 Dimensions of the Workshop ..........................................................................................70