New Harmony has been continuously occupied since the Harmonists founded the town in 1814 and it has proven difficult to isolate artifacts that specifically date to the Harmonist presence (1814-1824). One exception is the distinctive Harmonist redware ceramics, which were locally-made vessels used in the household. Archaeological excavations and archival studies over the past three years have provided a great deal of information on the nature of the Harmonist pottery operation. Ultimately, the goal of these investigations is to gain a greater understanding of the methods used in Harmonist pottery manufacture and the types of vessels made, which, in turn, can aid in understanding more about Harmonist foodways.
Michael Strezewski is an archaeologist and Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Southern Indiana. He has been working in the Midwest since 1992. His research focuses on Late Prehistoric (A.D. 1000 – 1400) Native American sites in Indiana and Illinois, with an emphasis on burial practices and what they can tell us about social organization and religious belief. Since 2008, he has been involved with archaeological research at the town of New Harmony, which was originally constructed by an early nineteenth-century utopian religious community. Excavations have focused on the site of the Harmonist redware pottery kiln, which was in operation from 1815 to 1824.For more information about the 2011 season at New Harmony, contact mstrezewsk@usi.edu
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