Michael Roller, a current Ph.D. candidate, and Adam Fracchia, recent Ph.D. graduate, produced a theme study on Labor Archeology of the Industrial Era that is now available on the National Park Service website. This project took several years in the making and provides a basic framework of archaeological sites that can contribute to the knowledge of labor during the industrial period. 

“This theme study is meant to provide a basic framework for the nomination of archeological sites that are nationally significant for their ability to yield or likely to yield information of major scientific importance about labor within the context of the industrial period of United States history, beginning in the late eighteenth century and continuing into the present. National Historic Landmark Criteria reflect a rigorous evaluative framework appropriate for properties possessing the potential to contain information of the highest level of national significance” (Fracchia & Roller 2014).

The complete study is available here: http://www.nps.gov/nhl/learn/themes/LaborArcheologyIndustrialEra.pdf

Fracchia, Adam and Michael Roller 

2014 LABOR ARCHEOLOGY OF THE INDUSTRIAL ERA: Identifying and Evaluating Nationally Significant Archeological Sites of Labor in the Industrial Era in the United States. A National Historic Landmarks Theme Study. Edited by Erika Martin Seibert