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Introduction to Historic Plastics in the Archaeological Record [Deeper Digs]
Many of us think of plastic as a modern phenomenon. However, the first synthetic plastics were in production by the early 1870s. Plastic artifacts present at archaeological sites are often mistaken as modern disturbance and not recognized for what they can contribute to a site’s history. A basic understanding of this material type will be increasingly important for recording and evaluating archaeological sites. This seminar will give an overview of the history and development of plastics, followed by an introduction to specific plastic types, including celluloid, Bakelite, and acrylic. Teaching will rely on detailed images of plastic artifacts and type collection examples from the early 1900s through to the modern era, including a discussion of basic identification methods. While the focus is on domestic sites,
information provided will inform on industrial commercial and archaeological sites as well. The seminar will conclude with a discussion of the Anthropocene, contemporary plastic archaeology, and time focused on individual solutions to the current plastic pollution crisis. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the session.