The Binnewaters and the Origins of American Somnolence

Seminar with Dr. Jeffrey L. Benjamin from University of Oulu.

Settled within the pleated folds of the “Little Appalachian” mountains of Upstate New York, USA, lie a series of interconnected lakes known locally as “the Binnewaters.” Because of its rocky, hilly terrain, this region remains relatively undeveloped, continuing to support an active outdoor tradition. Scattered among these hills one can also find the ubiqitous remains of a once active limestone mining operation: mines, adits, kilns and refinement structures are a constant presence along the trail and roadside; a reminder that the area was the country's prime producer of natural hydraulic cement in the nineteenth century. However, in the midst of this frenetic productive activity, a group of people known as “The Jukes” survived and maintained a culturally significant, even mythological, presence. Research suggests that – as ‘beings out of time’ – this small group of forest people may have inspired a literary and cultural archetype that continues to re-emerge into the present day.

Part of the Archaeology Research Seminar Series - Spring 2024