Reviews Virginia City: Secrets of a Western Past By Ronald M. James (University of Nebraska Press, 2012; 176 pgs., illus. $17 paper; www.nebraskapress.unl.edu)
Perspectives on Prehistoric Trade and Exchange in California and the Great Basin Edited by Richard E. Hughes (University of Utah Press, 2012; 273 pgs., illus., $50 cloth; www.UofUPress.com)
This collection of 13 essays examines prehistoric trade in California and the Great Basin, focusing on how material got from its source of origin to the place where it was recovered by archaeologists. Despite the vast distances and harsh terrain of the region, material goods did in fact travel great distances and in rather large quantities. While this is a very basic archaeological question, it is one of great importance in understanding prehistoric cultures. Each of the contributors describes the circumstances and conditions under which trade, direct access, and mobility account for the conveyance of material goods across varying distances and at different times. They also evaluate competing hypotheses about the human behaviors responsible for the movement of goods. Methods for identifying sources are covered in depth. This volume is an important contribution to a critical issue in American archaeology.
52
Virginia City begins with the story of a tiny bottle that was smashed to pieces in the African-American Boston Saloon. It was excavated by the author’s 14-year-old son, who recovered 21 small pieces including an embossed base with the brand name Tabasco Pepper Sauce. Archaeologists were able to date it to the early 1870s, making this bottle the earliest yet found from the famed Louisiana sauce company. How it got to Nevada is still a mystery. This is just one of the tales in this delightful book, which tells the story of one of the Wild West’s most important mining towns. Author Ronald James, along with hundreds of volunteers, students, and professional archaeologists, has been prying loose the secrets of Virginia City, Nevada, from the ruins of old buildings, trash piles, and cemeteries for several decades. Beginning as a mining camp for a few lucky individuals in 1859, it was one of the richest places on earth, attracting more foreign-born residents per capita than any other place in the United States. It was home to corporate executives, middle-class families, skilled craftsmen, miners, prostitutes, and barkeepers to name a few. Native Americans, Chinese, and recently freed slaves from the South added to the mix. Their stories are emerging as the researchers continue to explore the town. More than 30,000 artifacts have been recovered from a single drinking establishment known as the Boston Saloon. The Shooting Gallery and Saloon has yielded thousands of spent cartridges and bullets. More surprising is a delicate teapot lid and cup, ornate women’s buttons, and a collection of crystal bottle stoppers. These are the kinds of details the historical record fails to tell. Historical archaeology combines historical research with archaeological discovery of material remains, and Virginia City is an ideal place to apply this discipline. Employing these methods, this volume tells the story of a great Western boom and bust town. James, who also serves as Nevada’s state historic preservation officer, pulls together the results of numerous digs and study projects into an engaging story of the famed frontier town. Written for the general reader, it’s a hard book to put down.
summer • 2012
