Mythical Foundations/Material Consequences: A Look at Archaeological Research at the Workers Row Hou
The Museum of Anthropology at Wayne State University is celebrating its 50th anniversary on October 9th with the exhibition, Mythical Foundations/Material Consequences: A Look at Archaeological Research at the Workers Row House, Corktown, Detroit. The exhibition presents work resulting from three seasons of excavations in a historic city neighborhood by WSU faculty, students, and the Greater Corktown Development Corporation. The importance of this collaboration and community-centered research won recognition through the Governor's 2009 Award for Historic Preservation.
The Workers Row House is a small working class tenement built in 1849 and is perhaps the oldest wooden structure of its kind still standing in Detroit. The city's early residential, industrial, and ethnic histories were explored by Wayne State faculty, students and local volunteers through the dooryard of the Workers Row House.
The exhibit focuses on the challenges of interpreting excavated artifacts and what these remnants of material culture can tell us about the immigrants who once lived at the site. Featured in the exhibit are personal items, pottery, glass, and metal, excavated from the historical site which narrowly escaped destruction during the construction of the Lodge Freeway in the 1950s. We look at the prospects and benefits of future historical archaeology research in Detroit in the coming years.
All are invited to attend an opening reception and 50th anniversary celebration on Friday, October 9th from 5 to 7PM. The Museum of Anthropology is located on the 1st floor of Wayne State's historic Old Main building; the southwest corner of Cass and Warren. Regular museum hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10:00AM to 3:30PM. Please call to confirm museum hours 313.577.2598.