Historical archaeologists and others trying to date historical sites by means of the artifacts found on them are increasingly interested in common items manufactured during the lifetimes of people still living. This dating guide is intended to provide a simple source for the most common artifacts found in archaeological or historic contexts.
Cathy Spude compiled the following dating information for use by the public and professionals.
Plastics and Synthetics
1866: Polystyrene invented (fake rubber). Not used on a wide scale until the mid- 1950’s. Is most familiar to us as foam cups and other thermofoam products (Sacharow 1978: 93).
1869: First semi-synthetic plastic, celluloid, invented by John Wesley Hyatt (Friedl 1987; King 1991: 3).
1900: Invention of cellulose acetate, the “improved” cellulose. Glossy jewelry, toothbrush handles, eyeglass frames, soda straws, cellophane, and rayon. Many of these products are produced today (King 1991: 4).
1909: Bakelite invented by Leo H. Baekeland (King 1991: 5).
1918: First plant for production of cellulose acetate (celluloid), the first plastic (Sacharow 1978: 17).
1924: Beginning of production of cellophane (Sacharow 1978: 86).
1929: Urea-formaldehyde plastics, the first transparent synthetic plastics. Known as “Beatl” and “Beetleware.” Included tablewares, cases for shavers and hair dryers, buttons, tabletops, and lampshades. Brittle, warps easily and fades (King 1991: 6).
1930’s: The Great Depression was largely responsible for the boom in packaging materials of all kinds, due to government subsidy of package designers; subsidies were meant to stimulate consumer interest in products through attractive packaging (Sacharow 1978: 19).
1930: First use of cellophane as a wrapping material (King 1991: 4).
1930: Scotch tape (adhesive-coated cellophane ) invented and produced by 3M (Allen 1995: 51).
1934 – 1976: Pliofilm introduced commercially by Goodyear. Rubber hydrochloride film. Thermoplastic film used as a heat sealing medium for flexible packaging; e. g. Saran Wrap (Sacharow 1978: 93).
Ca. 1935: Water proof cellophane invented by DuPont (Sacharow 1978: 19).
1936: Acrylic plastics introduced by Rohm and Hass Company, called “plexiglass.” In 1937, DuPont introduced “Lucite,” another form of acrylic plastic (King 1991: 6).
1937: Introduction of melamine-formaldehyde plastic, called Melamine. Still used widely today (King 1991: 6).
1938: Nylon plastics developed by DuPont, for bristles in toothbrushes, hosiery and undergarments (King 1991: 7).
1940: Discovery of polyethylene (flexible plastic) (Sacharow 1978: 88).
1945: Tupperware developed (King 1991: 7).
1946: Introduction of Saran Wrap ; PVDC copolymer film (Sacharow 1978: 95).
1954: Wide scale manufacture of polyester films, dimensionally stable, temperature resistant, barrier to odors and gases (Sacharow 1978: 94-95).
1957: Polypropylene invented. Used to laminate paper products (like potato chip bags) (Sacharow 1978: 91)
1961: Scotch Brand Magic Tape on acetate rather than cellophane (Allen 1995: 52).
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