Overview

Utopian and intentional communities have dotted the American landscape since the colonial era, yet only in recent decades have archaeologists begun analyzing the material culture left behind by these groups. The case studies in this volume use archaeological evidence to reveal how these communities upheld their societal ideals – and how some diverged from them in everyday life. Surveying settlement patterns, the built environment, and even the smallest artifacts such as tobacco pipes and buttons, Stacy Kozakavich explores groups including the Shakers, the Harmony Society, the Moravians, the Ephrata Cloister, the Oneida community, Brook Farm, Mormon towns, the Llano del Rio colony, and the Kaweah colony. She urges researchers not to dismiss these communal experiments as quaint failures but to question how the lifestyles of the people in these groups are interpreted for visitors today. She reminds us that there is inspiration to be found in the unique ways these intentional communities pursued radical social goals.

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9780813056593

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Reviews

Kozakavich's brilliant volume may serve as a thorough guidebook to understanding the culture and history of communal and intentional communities. . . . [It] goes beyond the historical record to tease out little-known aspects of intentional communities through the material record. --Choice A valuable overview of the topic with thoughtful perspectives on approaches to analysis and interpretation. . . . Provides valuable inspiration for anyone contemplating the role of dissidence in social change. --Historical Archaeology A captivating read for anyone with an interest in archaeology and history. It provides an introduction on the history of utopian and intentional communities and archaeological details from many of these communities. --North American Archaeologist Useful to archaeologists and students of archaeology who are not familiar with this subject. --Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute

"""Kozakavich's brilliant volume may serve as a thorough guidebook to understanding the culture and history of communal and intentional communities. . . . [It] goes beyond the historical record to tease out little-known aspects of intentional communities through the material record.""--Choice ""A valuable overview of the topic with thoughtful perspectives on approaches to analysis and interpretation. . . . Provides valuable inspiration for anyone contemplating the role of dissidence in social change.""--Historical Archaeology ""A captivating read for anyone with an interest in archaeology and history. It provides an introduction on the history of utopian and intentional communities and archaeological details from many of these communities.""--North American Archaeologist ""Useful to archaeologists and students of archaeology who are not familiar with this subject.""--Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute"

Author Information

Stacy C. Kozakavich is project director at PaleoWest Archaeology.

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