Integrating Community, History, and Objects: Reflections on Eastern Pequot Reservation Archaeology

Summary

We use this paper to take stock of more than 12 years of collaboration between the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation and the University of Massachusetts Boston in the context of the Eastern Pequot Archaeological Field School. This is important to discuss in a session dedicated to a broader Pequot archaeology, as the Eastern Pequot and Mashantucket Pequot nations share many cultural, historical, and familial connections, yet have had different political and economic positions and archaeological programs over the last four decades. Taking stock means not only discussing what archaeological evidence has been recovered, how this information can speak to different audiences (students, tribal members, archaeologists, politicians), and what parallels or divergences can be found with respect to the Eastern Pequot’s cousins at Mashantucket, but also raising the question of how to make the practice of archaeology even more relevant and engaged. In particular, we want to consider how to incorporate archaeological methods and materials into local knowledge and community social memory and how to enhance the accessibility of information and practice. This engages the ongoing challenge balance of “giving” and “taking” embedded in the process of archaeological research done with Native communities on their historic lands.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Exploring 12,000 Years of Occupation, Land Use, and Conflict: Archaeological and Historical Research Sponsored by the Mashantucket and Eastern Pequot Tribes

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