Dutch Colonial Archaeology: New Netherland

Background to Dutch Colonial ExpansionIn the 1580s, the Dutch successfully revolt against Spanish Hapsburg rule

The English helped the Dutch to defend against the Spanish & maintain control of Zeeland (islands that commanded greatest river entrance into Europe)

Antwerp (Belgium) was the fulcrum of northwest European finance & commerce, but was recaptured by the Spanish

Thousands of Flemish & Walloons, esp. Protestants, fled into northern Netherlands

Amsterdam soon doubled in population & became the centre for new trade

In the 1590s, Dutch vessels began trading to Africa, Brazil, & the Orient

Dutch ShipsFlit, fluyt (flyboat)

Main ship for trade usually heavily armed, interchangeable, mass-produced parts. Large carrying capacity, small crew, low overhead

Jachtsmaller ship for coastal trade gaff-rigged

Dutch MerchantsBecame the middlemen of Europe, taking French & Iberian wine, brandy, oil, & salt to the Baltic and exchanging these for timber products, iron, & steel

Dutch imported large quantities of wheat & rye from Poland & Prussia for their own use & re-exported much to Southern Europe

At home, Dutch developed specialized market agriculture

In 1602, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) formed with state assistance:

By 1609 competing actively along main eastern routesEngaged Henry Hudson to search for a westward passage through America

Dutch become primary Atlantic sea-powerSuperimpose their own patterns on earlier ones with an emphasis on commerce. Become the principal agents of contact & diffusions around the Atlantic circuit

Responsible for the spread of Africans: - Ship Africans to Virginia & sell to English in 1619 - Slaves become critical - help build New Amsterdam

Introduce more efficient plantation & marketing systems; influences from Dutch Brazil critical to emergence of English Barbados & French Martinique as wealthy sugar colonies.

These islands became critical in the transfer of English & French planter societies to mainland

Henry Hudson’s Voyages

Found two great rivers behind broad sandy shields of coastal New Jersey & Long Island, whose estuaries had never been explored. The northern river reached 150 miles inland

clearly a strategic portal

Beginning of Dutch claim to & interest in all land between New England and Virginia

In 1621, the Dutch West India Company (WIC) was formed specifically to gain dominance over Atlantic trade

The Dutch West India CompanyPrimary focus on

capture of Spanish treasure fleetsdomination of sugar & slave trade

Company’s directors familiar with the fervor in England for plantingTherefore gave attention to colonization projects as well

Hudson Valley & Guiana were chief areas of interest

Scheme to use English Separatists (Pilgrims) for colony on the Hudson This was rejected by the Dutch governmentused Protest Flemish & Walloons who had petitioned to the London Company of Virginia to go to America ; hence religious refugees formed main body of 1st Dutch colonies in North America

Dutch purchased Manhattan Island from local Indians and laid out New Amsterdam on its southern tip

The Dutch arrive to set up a trade post, a scene repeated across the globe in the 17th century

Major West India Company Major West India Company settlements in the Atlantic settlements in the Atlantic (1640s–1650s)(1640s–1650s)

Major VOC settlements in the Major VOC settlements in the East (1660s)East (1660s)

New NetherlandArea of modern-day New York State, New Jersey, and parts of Delaware and Connecticut, settled by Dutch in 1624

Immediately successful because the Dutch were aware ofthe previous experiences of other European colonization effortsBritish took control in 1664, restored to Dutch control in 1673; permanently ceded to Britain 1674

Developed “conditions for colonies” This was a detailed set of instructions about what equipment and supplies to bring; emphasized the need for self-sufficiency

New Netherland

New Netherland : Archaeological SitesTwo types of sites:

1. Fortified urban mercantile centres - Manhattan Island - Fort Orange (Albany)

2. Large landed agricultural estates —patroonships

New Amsterdam/New York: administrative & trading centre multi-ethnic community (Dutch, Walloons, Huguenots, Scandinavians, Germans, English, Scots, Jews, Africans, and Native Americans)Most trade direct with AmsterdamRetention of Dutch foodways & culture well into British regime

New Amsterdam in 1664New Amsterdam in 1664

Albany Timeline

1624 — Fort Orange established1664 — Dutch surrender New Netherland to the Duke of York1673 — Dutch regain control of New York for a year1676 — English build a new fort overlooking Albany1686 — Albany receives its municipal charter1697 — Census shows city population at 7141713–1744 — Three decades of peace on the New York frontier1714 — city population counted at 11281754–1763 — The French and Indian War 1765 — Albany buys the fort and other military buildings from the British1766 — Sons of Liberty orchestrate opposition to the Stamp Act1766 — Docks and seawall built by Albany Corporation1776 — Tories arrested for drinking to the King's health1790 — Albany population reaches 3,4981793 — Albany's first great fire destroys several blocks in the core city1799 — New York State passes law that will abolish slavery by 18271800 — Census fixes city population at 5,349

Fort Orange/RenselaerswyckRenselaerswyck: agricultural colony that grew up around Fort Orange on both sides of Hudson founded by Killiaen van Rensselaer, Amsterdam diamond merchant, under license from WIC

Fort Orange: established 1624 (excavated by Paul Huey)remnants found in salvage projects in Albany revealed south moat of fort faced with cobblestones included several houses.

Van Doesburgh housewood-floored cellar & walls collapsed by 1660delft tilesdecorative leaded glass windowsbrick chimney, plaster, & pantile roofglassware—extremely delicate & fragilefew coins found, but some wampumtrade goods - glass beads, clay pipes, jews harpsfew tools or other trade items & few military items

Fort NassauFort Nassau

Present-day location of Fort Orange

Fort Orange (Albany)

Beverwyck (settlement that grew up north of Fort Orange)Beverwyck (settlement that grew up north of Fort Orange)

Archaeological Projects in AlbanyArchaeological Projects in Albany

Dean Street ExcavationsDean Street Excavations

17591793 1794

18431850 1876

1698

Dean Street ExcavationsDean Street Excavations

General area of excavations

Dean Street ExcavationsDean Street Excavations

Views of well-preserved remains of early wharves

Dean Street Excavations:Dean Street Excavations:finds indicating global tradefinds indicating global trade

Cowrie shell bearing inscription:In remembrance of meAs time may pass and years may flyand every hope decay and die---joyful dream lived beset---ever can forget.

The cowrie is probably from Africa.

Portion of Gunter’s quadrant

Conch shell from Caribbean

Dean Street ExcavationsDean Street Excavations

Remains of wellFragments of Delft tiles

Late 18th/ early 19th-century tea bowls & saucer from Albany sites

Quackenbush Square ExcavationsQuackenbush Square Excavations

Quackenbush Square ExcavationsQuackenbush Square ExcavationsArea 1: Remains of 17th-century Dutch housArea 1: Remains of 17th-century Dutch housee

Quackenbush Square: Excavations of Brick YardQuackenbush Square: Excavations of Brick Yard

Quackenbush Square ExcavationsQuackenbush Square ExcavationsArea 5: 18th-Century DistilleryArea 5: 18th-Century Distillery

Quackenbush Square ExcavationsQuackenbush Square ExcavationsArea 5: Interpreting the 18th-Century Still HouseArea 5: Interpreting the 18th-Century Still House

Quackenbush Square ExcavationsQuackenbush Square ExcavationsArea 5: Interpreting the 18th-Century Still HouseArea 5: Interpreting the 18th-Century Still House

Dutch material Culture and FoodwaysDiet very similar to that of Netherlands

bread most importantUsually made from wheat or rye flour - cheaperbought from bakers

Cheese, butter, fish, eggs, shellfish, vegetables, & grain gruelscheese & fish principal sources of protein

Meat in smoked or salted forms for all but poorest peopleBeverages

beer, milk, whey, buttermilk, and wineSome wild species, especially in early yearsAdopted North American maize to some extent, as replacement for grain-

based gruels Most common pottery vessel types

GrapenSkillets (steelpan or bakpan)Colandersplates (higher percentage than on English sites)

Dutch material Culture and FoodwaysThe types of artifacts for food preparation found include a

variety of coarse earthenwaresredwares & sometimes buff-paste wares

These reflect simple dishes & simple cooking techniquesPancakesWafflesPiesPorridgesGrillingRoastingFrying

Stewing

(a) Chamber Pot (kamerpot), Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Dutch lead-glazed whiteware, yellow, c. 1640-1650.(b) Serving dish (dienstschotel), Delft, the Netherlands. Dutch lead-glazed redware, polychrome, 17th century.(c) Pipkin (grape or kookkan), Delft, the Netherlands. Dutch lead-glazed earthenware, 17th century.(d) Skillet (steelpan), DeRyp, the Netherlands. Dutch lead-glazed earthenware, c. 1650.(e) Bowl (oorkom), Dutch lead-glazed redware, polychrome, c. 1630.(f) Colander (vergiet), Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Dutch lead-glazed whiteware, dark green, c. 1630.

Common forms of Dutch Utilitarian CeramicsCommon forms of Dutch Utilitarian Ceramics

Three views of a Dutch Three views of a Dutch slip-decorated porringer, slip-decorated porringer, dated 1614dated 1614

Dutch tin-glazed Dutch tin-glazed earthenware (Delftearthenware (Delft))

Drug pot

Lobed fruit dish

Woman in Window (note fluted delft fruit dish); top right, Still Life with Wan Li porcelain; bottom right, still life with Roemer (note fancy prunts on glass’s stem)

Two mid-17th-century scenes of well-off Dutch households, painted by de Hooch. Above, Interior with Young Couple; right, The Visit.

Jan Steen, Merry Family, 1660s

Maes, Girl Peeling Apples, 1655 Maes, Lacemaker, 1665

Bisschop, Young Girl in a Tavern

Man in Armor (in the style of Rembrandt)

Tavern scene

The Smoker

Jan Steen, The Dissolute Household, 1665