WHAT LIES BENEATH AT THE PINE STREET BARGE CANAL BREAKWATER SHIP GRAVEYARD: SITE FORMATION PROCESSES AS A DOCUMENT OF CHANGE IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT (C. 1830-1960)

Abstract

The Pine Street Barge Canal Breakwater Ship Graveyard in the waterfront of Burlington, Vermont contains a small assemblage of abandoned vessels along the shores of Lake Champlain. Representing a span of time dating from the early half of the 19th century into the middle of the 20th century, the ships within it are associated with the changing social, economic, and technological trends of the Burlington Waterfront. This thesis will examine the graveyard through the lens of behavioral archaeology using signs of human modification to provide evidence of structural and component removal along with other discernible patterns of salvage. Additionally, site formation processes of cultural and non-cultural transformation signatures will be used to explain the creation of the ship graveyard.