New York City Neighborhoods: The 18th Century

by Nan A. Rothschild

An archaeological study of the growth of Manhattan during the colonial period, this book documents the emergence of Manhattan as the center of class-structured capitalist commercialism in the new nation-state. A new introduction by the author updates her analysis in light of subsequent excavations at urban sites (both in New York and elsewhere) and theoretical advances in the understanding of urban public space. Originally published by Academic Press in 1990.

295 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great addition to any Historical Archaeology course. Nan Rothschild has provided a great study of community formation and an understanding of early spatial segregation along class and ethnic lines in NYC by looking at Stadt Huys, the Hanover Block and the Telco block. Her analysis relies on materials typically handled by historians but enhanced by the excavation material retrieved from privies and landfilling material from the very tip of Manhattan. There are many enlightening details about ordinary people's lives revealed by her faunal analyses, her maps, and her extensive data on the growth of Downtown Manhattan. And while very much data-centric, it makes for an enjoyable read.

[Lauren Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and informative. My one big issue with this book is that she spent a bit too much time taking about how she gathered the information before getting into the information itself. But maybe that's just a personal thing.