1768 map of Fort Niagara
Introduction
Many studies of colonial and early American history recognize the importance of Fort Niagara. Its location at the mouth of the Niagara River, on the portage route between Lakes Erie and Ontario, permitted the garrison to exert a great influence over the much coveted fur trade. It was one of the most important elements in the colonial economies of New France and New York. To the Iroquois, on whose land the post had been built, it was a constant reminder of the white man's power and unrelenting encroachment. Niagara was an important link in communicating with and supplying other Great Lakes posts during the wars for empire, revolution, and Indian rebellion. A variety of historical studies have examined the sieges, troop movements, diplomacy, trade networks, and architectural changes that took place at Fort Niagara.2 While those studies are fairly comprehensive, there has been little examination of the civilian trade area located not in the fort itself, but on the adjacent lowland next to the Niagara River.
During the late eighteenth century the British used that area, or "Bottoms" as it was called, extensively for trade, taverns, Indian diplomacy, and the receiving and dispatching of supplies, communications, and men. Those were the common day to day civilian activities without which this isolated post could not have survived let alone effectively protected British interests. The lack of information about such an important part of Fort Niagara justifies additional research.
Non military topics can pose a serious problem for historical researchers. Few of the tavern keepers, blacksmiths, Indians, artisans, and fur traders who operated in the Bottoms, produced documents that have survived to the present. To retrieve new information some researchers have turned to the archaeological record. Items such as nails, pins, bottles, and ceramics not only offer information about the daily activities of the common man but also indicate gradual changes in tastes and technology through time. Such a marriage of historical and archaeological research techniques was the basis of this investigation.
