Excavations performed at the historic Smith House (ORYA3) located in
Dayton, Yamhill County, Oregon, recovered a large collection of artifacts. Categories
of artifacts previously analyzed include flat glass, nails, glass containers, ceramic
hollowware and flatware, brick, bone, metal containers, illumination devices,
currency, footwear, tobacco, and lead balls, shot, and cartridge casings. A category not
analyzed was children's toys. This thesis addresses this category of artifact.
The thesis discusses the historical context of the Smith House, and examines
children, play and toys. The theoretical construct of symbolic anthropology is used to
provide a model for the process of enculturation. Detailed analysis of glass and clay
marbles and of ceramic doll and doll-related artifacts is performed. Proveniences and
associations of these artifacts are undertaken. Appendices provide for a chronology of
doll manufacturing and for a detailed description of artifacts.
Conclusions drawn from the analysis of the toys at the Smith House suggest
that a larger collection of toys and better provenience of collected materials are
necessary in order to apply the symbolic approach to toys as tools of enculturation.
Recommendations for future avenues of research are given. It is suggested that this
analysis provides a basis for future comparison with other historical archaeological
sites. / Graduation date: 2002
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/32380 |
| Date | 17 April 2001 |
| Creators | Kramer, Stephen Francis |
| Contributors | Brauner, David R. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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