Join us for our conversation with Nikki Manning and Kate Gonzales as we discuss urban archaeology in Missoula, Montana. Kate and Nikki have both been involved in recovering artifacts from a vacant lot in the heart of Missoula's red-light district through their capacity as graduate students within the Department of Anthropology at the University of Montana. These artifacts tell us about the women and men who worked and lived in this district. Through the archaeological record, they have learned about women's hygiene and birth control methods used in the district by studying the bottles coming out of the ground. We discuss these artifacts and their uses, you'll be surprised what lysol was used for in the 19th century! We also discuss Nikki's book, Underground Missoula and her continued look at underground spaces and what they can and cannot tell us about Missoula's historic Chinese community. Kate's master's thesis work at the University of Montana focuses on female prostitution through the lens of historical archaeology methods and a feminist theoretical perspective to explore intersections of gender, class, ethnicity, and age. archaeology of historic red-light districts. Nikki is currently working towards a doctorate studying an interdisciplinary approach to historic preservation that includes research in the fields of urban archaeology, architectural history, and heritage conservation. Join us for this fascinating conversation on urban archaeology and the importance of community outreach and education. 

 

To Learn More: 

 

Underground Missoula by Nikki Manning

 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/beneath-missoula-remnants-19th-century-red-light-district-and-chinatown-180974230/

 

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8462-200218-montana-missoula-chinatown

 

https://missoulian.com/news/local/archaeologists-uncover-pieces-of-missoula-s-red-light-district-chinese/article_f0e8d9dd-a6dd-595a-9ce2-e3e1d9ed709d.html