Nailing Down the Pattern in Historical Archaeology

This study suggests that middle-range research has an important role to play in historical archaeology. Three models are developed for interpreting nail assemblages from 19th and 20th century contexts. All models are based upon ethnoarchaeology, experimental archaeology, and direct observations of nails operating in their systemic contexts. The first model allows for discriminating between a nail assemblage from an ephemeral structure site and an assemblage from a dump site. The second model enables the archaeologist to identify whether a building was log, timber frame, or balloon frame construction. The third model is designed to discriminate between nail assemblages where structures were torn down to recycle the lumber and structures dismantled and materials discarded. These models are used to interpret nails from two East Tennessee archaeological sites. It is concluded that such middle-range research is an effective aid for interpreting historic site formation processes.