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Partakers of plenty

By James Deetz
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History - American

About This Book

The essay reconstructs an early New England harvest celebration recorded by an eyewitness, arguing it functioned as a communal harvest festival and feast rather than a solemn religious rite. It outlines the settlers' mixed social origins and medieval English cultural continuities, the hazardous transatlantic crossing and devastating first winter, and the political response that produced a participatory compact. It examines encounters with indigenous people, whose numbers had been reduced by epidemic, and the food exchanges, hunting, and gifts that formed the feast. Combining historical narrative with ethnogastronomic analysis, the study situates the event in English harvest customs and explores what the meal reveals about survival, community, and cultural memory.

About the Author

Deetz, James portrait

James Deetz

James Deetz was an American author and historian known for his contributions to the field of historical archaeology. His notable work, "Partakers of Plenty," explores the social and economic dynamics of early American life, particularly in relation to food and consumption. Deetz's research often emphasized the importance of material culture in understanding historical contexts, making significant strides in how we interpret the past. His insights have influenced both academic and public discussions about history and archaeology.

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