Urban Archaeology at the Site of the Argosy Casino: The Materiality of Social Change in the Canal Town of Lawrenceburg, Southern Indiana

Lawrenceburg was a dynamic community in southern Indiana during the 19th century. Via the Ohio River and Whitewater Canal, this planned urban center was poised to take advantage of emerging financial opportunities related to commercial activities. As the canal failed, Lawrenceburg was unable to comp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Historical archaeology 2008-01, Vol.42 (1), p.47-69
Main Authors: Rotman, Deborah L., Clay, R. Berle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
19th century
Archaeological sites
Archaeology
Canals
Casinos
Cities
Class
Communities
Cultural landscapes
Ethnicity
Historical archaeology
Indiana
Lawrenceburg
Neighborhoods
Social archaeology
Social change
Social interaction
Social relations
Social Sciences
Tableware
Tea sets
U.S.A
Urban archaeology
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Summary:Lawrenceburg was a dynamic community in southern Indiana during the 19th century. Via the Ohio River and Whitewater Canal, this planned urban center was poised to take advantage of emerging financial opportunities related to commercial activities. As the canal failed, Lawrenceburg was unable to compete with larger metropolitan centers like nearby Cincinnati. This paper examines the material record of three home lots in one of this community's neighborhoods as changes in transportation infrastructure altered the physical and cultural landscape over time. This once-vibrant urban neighborhood evolved into a marginal residential enclave, altering social relations of class and ethnicity.
ISSN:0440-9213
2328-1103
DOI:10.1007/BF03377063