Keepers of the Cave: The Impact Caretakers Have on the Archaeological Record.

Summary

Caretakers, whether self-appointed or formally selected, have an immense impact on the distribution of material remains at sacred sites in modern day Haiti. This paper examines the ritual use of four caves in Haiti and the effects that four different caretakers have had on the ritual remains left behind after Vodou ceremonies have taken place. These cave/caretaker combinations include publicly accessed caves that are cared for by a cadre of self-appointed homeless men, a cave in private hands managed as a ceremonial/tourist destination, a community managed cave system being transformed into a tourist/festival destination, and a cave managed as part of a national park with a state-appointed caretaker. The patterns of artifact migration in these modern instances can be of use in interpreting the archaeological record of select ceremonial locations with similar use patterns and access.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

Keywords

Spatial Coverage