Remember Paoli!: Archaeological Exploration of a Military and Domestic Landscape

Abstract

In September of 1777, the British and American Armies were engaged in a series of battles known as the Philadelphia Campaign. Although neither the largest engagement of the campaign nor of the American Revolution, the Battle of Paoli gained notoriety due to the nature of the conflict. The British Army, led by General Charles Gray, conducted a midnight bayonet raid on General Anthony Wayne’s encamped Pennsylvanians. The brutality of the night resulted in the Battle becoming recognized as the Paoli Massacre. This dissertation provides an archaeological exploration of the Battle of Paoli through many lenses, contexts, and throughout time. First, the research illustrates the necessity for studying conflict sites in a more holistic manner. In this realm, archaeologists must consider not only the contexts of the battle, but also the cultural contexts that shaped how warfare occurred and was experienced. Therefore, archaeological fieldwork was performed on the Paoli Battlefield as well as at the home site of the 18th century property owner. This methodology provides the ability to relate the cultural landscape to the landscape of the battle. Additionally, this dissertation applies both historical and archaeological methods to examine and interpret the memory associated with the battle. The Battle of Paoli was short in duration, but the memory of the event and the commemorations associated with its remembrance spans over two-hundred forty years. Thus, this dissertation seeks to expand the understanding of conflict sites beyond a single event to include interpretations regarding broader cultural realties that predate the conflict, in addition to the remembrance practices that influence society well beyond the cessation of conflict.