The ships reached Delaware Bay in March 1638, and the settlers began to build a fort at the site of present-day Wilmington, Delaware. They named it Forte Christina, in honor of Sweden's twelve-year-old queen. It was the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley.
During the next seventeen years, twelve more Swedish expeditions left the homeland for New Sweden. A total of eleven ships landed, carrying more than six-hundred passengers in all. The settlement grew into areas of present-day Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. After much turmoil and conflict - the settlement was eventually overtaken by Dutch settlers in 1654/1655 and incorporated into New Netherland."
Although, the migration of Swiss immigrants was not largely recognized until the nineteenth century; whereas, the idea behind this settlement's beliefs and culture is rather interesting considering it was led by a group from Switzerland instead Dutch, English or German settlers.
Map Shows New Sweden and Delaware River Valley Settlements
17th Century New Sweden and Delaware River Valley Settlements
While presenting at the Annual Council for Northeast Archaeology Conference at the University of Delaware last weekend - I saw a group of artifacts that were unearthed in areas of the New Sweden settlement in Delaware. This year's conference showed a large focus towards this settlement, where each artifact was not necessarily directly related to the original settlement, but it was rather a collection that demonstrated materials which related to the people, who lived in the area of the New Sweden settlement in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The New Sweden Archaeology Collection demonstrates artifacts that were used in everyday life, such as coins, various domestic and imported ceramics, household wares and accessories used for daily attire.
A jug was displayed that appeared like a nineteenth century New England or Pennsylvania form, but it may be related to the early potters in the area. I have, yet to determine its origin; although, the jug is said to have been found in a late-seventeenth or early-eighteenth century archaeological context.
Jug Recovered at New Sweden, Delaware Settlement
Late-17th or Early-18th Century Red Earthenware Jug
Recovered at the New Sweden Site in Delaware
Form Appears American-Made
Form Appears American-Made
Photo Courtesy: University of Delaware & The New Sweden Archaeology Conference & Delaware State Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
The collection also included the remains of a wonderful slip-decorated red earthenware bowl, which was recovered within an early-to-mid-eighteenth century archaeological context. The bowl's decoration closely resembles a pan that was recovered within a similar context in Philadelphia. It is believed that the pan found in New Sweden was made by a potter in Philadelphia, which is not completely shocking since the potters in Philadelphia are known to have exported pottery to Delaware in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Bowl Recovered at the Site of the New Sweden, Delaware Settlement
Early-to-Mid-18th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Pan
Likely Made in Philadelphia
Likely Made in Philadelphia
Recovered at the New Sweden Archaeological District in Delaware
Decoration is Similar to the Pan Recovered in Delaware Shown Below
Decoration is Similar to the Pan Recovered in Delaware Shown Below
Photo Courtesy: University of Delaware & The New Sweden Archaeology Conference & Delaware State Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Pan Recovered in Philadelphia
Mid 18th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Pan
Found at the Site of Independence Park in Philadelphia
Decoration is Similar to the Bowl Recovered in Delaware Shown Above
Photo Courtesy: National Parks Services Philadelphia Archaeology Department
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
No comments:
Post a Comment