Philadelphia's history as an industrial powerhouse is more than factories and railroads. From the city’s peak residential population to the explosion of rail transport, animals played a surprising role in shaping urban life in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Join zooarchaeologist Dr. Katherine Moore, for a unique perspective on Philadelphia’s past, as she reveals what animal bones, historical records, and urban landscapes tell us about the connections between animals, industry, and daily life. Discover how shifts in animal labor, food production, and even the chemical industry helped define this pivotal era in the city’s history.

About the Speaker:

Katherine Moore, Ph.D., is the Mainwaring Teaching Specialist for Zooarchaeology in the Center for Analysis of Archaeological Materials (CAAM), and a Practice Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Penn. She works on ancient animal bones that are the remains of food, pets, pests, and herd animals, untangling the multiple roles that animals have played in the lives of people.