Subfloor Pits and the Archaeology of Slavery in Colonial Virginia

“[Subfloor Pits and the Archaeology of Slavery in Colonial Virginia] is a tightly focused and thorough investigation of a specific type of archaeological feature, sub-floor pits that appear to be typical of many African American sites of enslaved laborers, particularly on Virginia plantations. Although the study, with its detailed attention to archaeological field methodology, is geared specifically toward archaeologists, it is an important source for any scholar of African American history as well as archaeology. Recommended.”
—CHOICE

“The manuscript is thorough and richly textured in use of ethnohistoric, art history, archaeological, and historical data. This will be a useful and concise source of data.”
—Amy L. Young, Associate Professor of Anthropology, The University of Southern Mississippi
 

“This is a well-conducted piece of exciting synthetic research on a topic of interest to many archaeologists. This study features a thorough and sophisticated integration of ethnographic, documentary, and archaeological analyses. This work is an outstanding example of contextual archaeology.”—Laurie A. Wilkie, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley

“Samford’s book is an excellent introduction to the archaeology of slavery in Colonial Virginia. Although the subject might at first glance appear to be overly specialized, her analysis of the pit features identified in Virginia quarters reveals much about the social, physical, and spiritual conditions of the enslaved in 18th century Virginia. Her arguments are well thought out and presented cogently in a very readable and information packed book. I would suggest that anyone with an interest in colonial slavery read Subfloor Pits and the Archaeology of Slavery in Colonial Virginia."
—Journal of Middle Atlantic Archaeology