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Past Objects
In the space between archaeology and history stand men like Scott Jordan, a New Yorker who has been digging around in the city's soil for the better part of four decades. What began as a childhood hobby searching for treasure evolved into a lifestyle that has resulted in Jordan haunting building sites throughout the five boroughs, attempting to recover history before it is paved over forever. Using shovels, mesh sieves, canvas rucksacks, ingenuity and an incredible amount of determination, Jordan has amassed a staggering collection of antique bottles, china, toys, shoes and other items, which together create a patchwork historical narrative of New York City and its earliest settlers.
As a self-trained historian and restorer of damaged objects, Jordan is not only privy to a unique take on early American history, but his adventures weave together into a tremendous factual and speculative examination of the past, by returning it to the present for all to enjoy. Past Objects features some of Jordan's favorite objects and stories, sure to appeal to anyone intrigued by history, antiques and popular culture.
As a self-trained historian and restorer of damaged objects, Jordan is not only privy to a unique take on early American history, but his adventures weave together into a tremendous factual and speculative examination of the past, by returning it to the present for all to enjoy. Past Objects features some of Jordan's favorite objects and stories, sure to appeal to anyone intrigued by history, antiques and popular culture.
- GenresNonfiction
128 pages, Hardcover
First published July 15, 2010
28 people want to read
About the author
Scott Jordan
13 books2 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 28, 2025
So interesting. What great finds so close to the surface and in such good condition.
December 1, 2010
Detritus, Remnants, Treasures
Scott Jordan is a man obsessed with the past. Not in a bad way, as in living in a place that is not the present, but in his fascination for relics of history. Jordan is not an archeologist in the classical sense of the term: his travels do not include Egypt or the Inca/Mayan temples or the unknown stretches of China. His source for exploration is New York City and for over twenty years he has been scraping through the landfills, the coal ash, the privies and cisterns where he finds all manner of elements that extend back a couple of centuries or a couple of years - so fast is our urgent need to tear down and build up that places from the early part of the 20th century are now sites for digs before the new buildings take over.
This book includes words from Jordan about his preoccupation with digs and the manner in which he began his hobby. it is also a treasure trove of photographs by J.K. Putnam of the things found - animal skulls, implements from the colonial era such as cannonballs, spoons buttons and shoes, bottles for any number of contents, ceramics from dishes to dolls to pipes, leather, wood, ivory, metal, and even art. Jordan interrupts the flow of pictures with tales of a near fatal collapse of a clay cliff, with comments about certain of his finds - all information that adds to the pleasure of retracing history.
This is an art book, and homage to a collector gone wild, and a fascinating peek into the treasures that lie beneath our streets, buildings and parks almost anywhere in this country - or this world!
Grady Harp
Scott Jordan is a man obsessed with the past. Not in a bad way, as in living in a place that is not the present, but in his fascination for relics of history. Jordan is not an archeologist in the classical sense of the term: his travels do not include Egypt or the Inca/Mayan temples or the unknown stretches of China. His source for exploration is New York City and for over twenty years he has been scraping through the landfills, the coal ash, the privies and cisterns where he finds all manner of elements that extend back a couple of centuries or a couple of years - so fast is our urgent need to tear down and build up that places from the early part of the 20th century are now sites for digs before the new buildings take over.
This book includes words from Jordan about his preoccupation with digs and the manner in which he began his hobby. it is also a treasure trove of photographs by J.K. Putnam of the things found - animal skulls, implements from the colonial era such as cannonballs, spoons buttons and shoes, bottles for any number of contents, ceramics from dishes to dolls to pipes, leather, wood, ivory, metal, and even art. Jordan interrupts the flow of pictures with tales of a near fatal collapse of a clay cliff, with comments about certain of his finds - all information that adds to the pleasure of retracing history.
This is an art book, and homage to a collector gone wild, and a fascinating peek into the treasures that lie beneath our streets, buildings and parks almost anywhere in this country - or this world!
Grady Harp
June 2, 2014
Fantastic book with a gorgeous cover photo. Scott tells his story of landfill diving and digging through construction sites to find relics of the past. Full of beautiful photography and one amusing typo (poopulation), this book is a must read.
June 28, 2013
Absolutely wonderful.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews