Obscuring the Inequalities of Slavery: Identifying Differential Access to Ceramics at Monticello

Differential access to expensive ceramic vessels among enslaved individuals at Monticello during Thomas Jefferson's residency (1770s–1790s) was linked to their proximity to his mansion. This study reveals that enslaved people closer to the mansion had greater access to costly ceramics, suggesting Jefferson distributed such items to obscure the brutal inequalities of slavery from his view and visitors. Using historical documents, archaeological materials, and the Digital Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery (DAACS) database, researchers analyzed ceramic assemblages from Mulberry Row and the Elizabeth Hemings site, building on prior scholarship by Diana Crader, William Adams, and Sarah Boling.

Lentz, K. (2010). Obscuring the Inequalities of Slavery: Identifying Differential Access to Ceramics at Monticello. University of Massachusetts Amherst. https://doi.org/10.7275/695