Boomtown Saloons: Archaeology and History in Virginia City
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Boomtown Saloons has been heralded as a groundbreaking book on the historical archaeology of the Old West. Its account of the excavation and analysis of four nineteenth-century Virginia City, Nevada, saloon sites offers a provocative new interpretation of the role of saloons in a mining boomtown. Dixon, who participated in the excavation projects, discusses the meticulous work of the modern archaeologist, the technologies involved in analyzing evidence, and what these discoveries tell us about Virginia City's people and their social habits. Contrary to the image, perpetuated by films and legend, of Old West saloons as sites of violence and raucous entertainment, these establishments-including one owned by an African American businessman that offered some of the finest meals in the city-offered patrons a place to relax and dine with friends, participate in gambling and other amusements, and find refuge from the anonymity and isolation that often afflicts a transient population. Boomtown Saloons' sparkling text and thoughtful interpretation of both physical and documentary evidence reveal a hitherto unknown aspect of the material life and culture of one of the Old West's most storied cities. Dixon persuasively demonstrates that the traditional western saloon had a far more socially and ethnically diverse clientele than previously believed, and that it served a vital, complex social and economic role in its community.About the Author:Kelly J. Dixon is a professor of anthropology at the University of Montana
Introduction : historical archaeology methods : much more than digging with small tools11Opening saloon doors : archaeology unearths the real mother lode232Facades of public drinking : saloon architecture433Authentic saloon sets : interior fixtures554Menu items : drinking and dining in Virginia City saloons735A toast to the artifacts : saloon serving ware996Desires for diversion : saloon vices and amusements1127Crime scene investigation? : forensic applications and saloon artifacts136Conclusion : casting the saloon of the wild west in a new light147
