The Historical Archaeology of Michigan

An overview of archaeological research in Michigan that reveals the history of the state during the past four hundred years

Michigan has long been an incubator for invention, technology, and creativity. This book explores this legacy through the historical archaeology of the past four hundred years in the state, illustrating how Michigan’s history reflects the broader American experience through themes of entrepreneurship, immigration, capitalism, and civil rights.

Written by three archaeologists who have dedicated more than 75 years to research in the state, the chapters in this book describe the construction of encampments and fortifications that facilitated seventeenth-century European colonization, the rise of the fur trade and natural resource extraction, and the impact of land acquisition by white settlers who built farmsteads and logging camps in the nineteenth century. The authors examine Detroit’s urban development, revealing how industrial capitalism led to inequality and segregation. They also highlight the pivotal role of Michigan archaeologists within the discipline of historical archaeology.

The archaeological findings discussed here, associated with Anishinaabe peoples, settler colonialism, immigrants, agriculture, industry, and urbanization, illustrate the distinct ways in which the American experience was lived in Michigan. The Historical Archaeology of Michigan brings together a wealth of information to show how Michigan’s people have maintained their sense of belonging and embraced their citizenship while adapting to economic, political, social, and cultural challenges.