Southeast Michigan

Investigating Historic Foodways in Southeast Michigan - Est. 2024

I serve as a team member, co-lead faunal analyst, and lead isotopic analyst for the River Raisin Archaeological Project, directed by Dr. John Chenoweth. This multi-phase site in Southeast Michigan played a pivotal role as both a French colonial settlement and a key battlefield during the War of 1812. Our research sheds new light on the region’s colonial-era lifeways, particularly through the lens of food and animal use. As co-lead faunal analyst, I have helped document a rich assemblage of animal remains that offers important insights into colonial cuisine, provisioning strategies, and cultural preferences. In my role as lead isotopic analyst, I am conducting collagen isotope analysis on a targeted subsample to investigate dietary signatures, alongside detailed butchery analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These combined methods allow for a fine-grained reconstruction of foodways at River Raisin, contributing to a deeper understanding of daily life, resource use, and identity in early colonial Michigan.