•  
  •  
 

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Olivia Elliott-Smith

Faculty Advisor Email

olivia.elliottsmith@ell.ox.ac.uk

Abstract

Archaeology and Folklore have long had a tense relationship, but in an era of archaeology focusing more and more on the current and descendant communities it is imperative for archaeologists to begin engage folklore traditions in their work. By engaging archaeology and folkloric methods both fields can benefit. In the case of this study, I have used the "Traveling Jack" story, a common folk tale with English, Scottish, Irish, and Appalachian versions that involves a young man using his wits to overcome a series of challenges to achieve various happy endings, to trace Scottish and Irish settlement and reinvention in the Appalachian Mountains of the United States South. By analyzing various "Traveling Jack" tales and comparing motifs across cultures I argue that Scottish and Irish identities are maintained in Appalachian identity through "Traveling Jack" tales.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.