Commercial Foods, 1740-1820

Commercial food packaging, in both bulk and unit sizes, can be found in archaeological assemblages. Newspaper advertisements from the ca. 1740 to 1820 period provide information on the shape, size, and contents of wood, metal, glass, ceramic, and fiber containers. The advertisements also show that elements of consumerism, in the form of brand names, distinctive packaging, unit packaging, international markets, fixed prices, ready-made items, and targeted markets, were practiced in the food industry by the early years of the 19th century.