Prostitution, archaeology of, North America

Abstract

The archaeology of prostitution in the United States is the archaeology of brothels that have been excavated during cultural resource management projects, mainly in cities. While prostitution in American cities has been studied by numerous social historians of the nineteenth century, the reality of prostitutes’ everyday lives comes into focus through the excavated artifacts and sites. A major insight is the contrast between the artifacts associated with work—fancy dishes, expensive cuts of meat, elaborate glassware, cosmetics, and clothing—and artifacts associated with the prostitutes’ private lives. Venereal disease and contraception were major concerns, and artifacts (e.g., syringes, douches) associated with both have been recovered. Clay pipes, probably smoked in off hours, sewing paraphernalia, and decorative items suggest the world that prostitutes constructed when they were not working. Children's toys and china also belong to that world. The archaeological finds throw light on the agency and independence of women who sought a decent living through prostitution, but they also reveal the negative and difficult aspects of that choice.