ASBC Victoria January Meeting: Tom Bown & Historical Archaeology, Tuesday Jan 21st

Image from http://members.shaw.ca/limebay/

Please note the new location for this talk (below) – ASBC Victoria is no longer at the Pacific Forestry Centee

Tom Bown
A Trail of Empties

Tuesday, January 21, 2014,
7:30 pm

Cornett B129, UVic

Abstract: Global expansion from the 17th century on could likely be studied just by the trail of bottles left behind. Fortunately glass preserves well and, based on the style and method of manufacture, can offer some very precise dating tools. In an archeological context glass fragments are often the first indication of contact or trade with the outside world. They can also offer information about a site and the people who lived there. During the talk I will offer an overview of how to identify and date glass bottles along with some “hands on” examples.

Feel free to bring bottles of your own for possible identification.

My spies in the UVIC Anthropology Department tell me they are really happy to be the new host for the ASBC, and are very grateful to the Pacific Forestry Centre for their many years of hospitality.  Instructions and a map to Cornett Building B129, UVIC are below.

Bio: Tom Bown is a graduate of the University of Victoria. He spent about three years with the Royal BC Museum archaeology division prior to starting a career with the Canadian Forest Service. His latest project with the CFS was to develop a searchable database of long-term and historic research sites for Canada. He has maintained a close association with archaeology and most recently worked with a Bermuda marine archeologist to document the glass bottles used by the Royal Navy. A publication on that project is in progress.

For information, phone 384-6059, or

• e-mail asbcvictoria@gmail.com
• ‘like’ us on facebook:

Room B129, Cornett Building, University of Victoria.

Please note that you have to pay for parking at UVIC in the evenings – it’s about 2.00$ or 2.25$ as a flat rate for the whole evening.  Use the machines that dispense paper tickets.  Actual meters are in force 24 hours/day.

Note the bus loop, above, if you are arriving that way.