Cuban Heritage Understanding through Guided Surveys (CHUGS): Establishing a public workshop and database

Summary

Washed up on the Florida shore, the boats that survive the voyage from Cuba are more than a means of transportation; they represent the refugee’s stories of ingenuity and courage. Known as "chugs" due to the sound they make, these boats can be anything from fishing yachts or skiffs, to vernacular vessels that almost defy categorization. These chugs are the physical artifacts of the struggle for political and economic freedom that has propelled thousands to make the dangerous journey over more than fifty years. In light of the recent diplomatic thaw between the United States and Cuba, the Florida Public Archaeology Network conceived of a new public workshop that would record these cultural resources. The workshop trains the public to document the watercraft using a standard measurement system. Collecting this comparable data and making it available as an interactive database will facilitate the study and public understanding of this essential piece of Florida’s heritage.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage