African Diaspora Archaeology "The Bocas Way"

Summary

This research is an investigation into the African Diaspora and an archaeological approach that is based on exploring the African Diaspora in a complex, multi-ethnic, multiracial situation, where I was able to draw on excavations, archival documents, and ethnography to infer the process of culture change and emergent identities. The research takes place within the western Caribbean island community of Bocas del Toro, Panama. In this presentation I will present my perspectives and approach to Diaspora in Bocas. Through an ethnographic approach to African Diaspora archaeology I will reveal the historical consciousness of Bocatorenos, and demonstrate how an early 19th century pirate identity unifies Bocatorenos and repels European modes of racialization. To accomplish this goal, I present the Bocatoreno narrative of place known as "the Bocas Way" and will demonstrate how the "Bocas Way" is conceptualized and incorporated into my project through collaboration and the implementation of African Diaspora archaeology.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2015   •
• Applied Contemporary Archaeology

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 512