Dutch Colonial Archaeology New Netherland Background to Dutch

Dutch Colonial Archaeology: New Netherland

Background to Dutch Colonial Expansion In the 1580 s, 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 1590 s, Dutch vessels began trading to Africa, Brazil, & the Orient

Dutch Ships Flit, fluyt (flyboat) Main ship for trade usually heavily armed, interchangeable, mass-produced parts. Large carrying capacity, small crew, low overhead Jacht smaller ship for coastal trade gaff-rigged

Dutch Merchants Became 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 routes Engaged Henry Hudson to search for a westward passage through America

Dutch become primary Atlantic sea-power Superimpose 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 Virginia In 1621, the Dutch West India Company (WIC) was formed specifically to gain dominance over Atlantic trade

The Dutch West India Company Primary focus on capture of Spanish treasure fleets domination of sugar & slave trade Company’s directors familiar with the fervor in England for planting Therefore 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 government used Protest Flemish & Walloons who had petitioned to the London Company of Virginia to go to America ; hence religious refugees formed main body of 1 st 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 17 th century

Major West India Company settlements in the Atlantic (1640 s– 1650 s) Major VOC settlements in the East (1660 s)

New Netherland Area 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 of the previous experiences of other European colonization efforts British 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 Sites Two 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 Amsterdam Retention of Dutch foodways & culture well into British regime

New Amsterdam in 1664

Albany Timeline 1624 — Fort Orange established 1664 — Dutch surrender New Netherland to the Duke of York 1673 — Dutch regain control of New York for a year 1676 — English build a new fort overlooking Albany 1686 — Albany receives its municipal charter 1697 — Census shows city population at 714 1713– 1744 — Three decades of peace on the New York frontier 1714 — city population counted at 1128 1754– 1763 — The French and Indian War 1765 — Albany buys the fort and other military buildings from the British 1766 — Sons of Liberty orchestrate opposition to the Stamp Act 1766 — Docks and seawall built by Albany Corporation 1776 — Tories arrested for drinking to the King's health 1790 — Albany population reaches 3, 498 1793 — Albany's first great fire destroys several blocks in the core city 1799 — New York State passes law that will abolish slavery by 1827 1800 — Census fixes city population at 5, 349

Fort Orange/Renselaerswyck: 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 house wood-floored cellar & walls collapsed by 1660 delft tiles decorative leaded glass windows brick chimney, plaster, & pantile roof glassware—extremely delicate & fragile few coins found, but some wampum trade goods - glass beads, clay pipes, jews harps few tools or other trade items & few military items

Present-day location of Fort Orange Fort Nassau

Fort Orange (Albany)

Beverwyck (settlement that grew up north of Fort Orange)

Archaeological Projects in Albany

Dean Street Excavations 1698 1759 1794 1793 1843 1850 1876

Dean Street Excavations General area of excavations

Dean Street Excavations Views of well-preserved remains of early wharves

Dean Street Excavations: finds indicating global trade Conch shell from Caribbean Cowrie shell bearing inscription: In remembrance of me As time may pass and years may fly and every hope decay and die ---joyful dream lived beset ---ever can forget. The cowrie is probably from Africa. Portion of Gunter’s quadrant

Dean Street Excavations Fragments of Delft tiles Remains of well

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

Quackenbush Square Excavations

Quackenbush Square Excavations Area 1: Remains of 17 th-century Dutch house

Quackenbush Square: Excavations of Brick Yard

Quackenbush Square Excavations Area 5: 18 th-Century Distillery

Quackenbush Square Excavations Area 5: Interpreting the 18 th-Century Still House

Dutch material Culture and Foodways Diet very similar to that of Netherlands bread most important Usually made from wheat or rye flour - cheaper bought from bakers Cheese, butter, fish, eggs, shellfish, vegetables, & grain gruels cheese & fish principal sources of protein Meat in smoked or salted forms for all but poorest people Beverages beer, milk, whey, buttermilk, and wine Some wild species, especially in early years Adopted North American maize to some extent, as replacement for grainbased gruels Most common pottery vessel types Grapen Skillets (steelpan or bakpan) Colanders plates (higher percentage than on English sites)

Dutch material Culture and Foodways The types of artifacts for food preparation found include a variety of coarse earthenwares redwares & sometimes buff-paste wares These reflect simple dishes & simple cooking techniques Pancakes Waffles Pies Porridges Grilling Roasting Frying Stewing

Common forms of Dutch Utilitarian Ceramics (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, 17 th century. (c) Pipkin (grape or kookkan), Delft, the Netherlands. Dutch lead-glazed earthenware, 17 th century. (d) Skillet (steelpan), De. Ryp, 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.

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

Dutch tin-glazed earthenware (Delft) Lobed fruit dish Drug pot

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)