Ceramics, Foodways, and Identity in Bocas del Toro, Panama

Summary

The Island of Isla Colon in the western Caribbean archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama has long been a place of trade and exchange. In the period shortly before Old World contact, different native groups visited the region producing an array of material evidence. Regionally diverse ceramics found on the island demonstrate a plethora of styles and traditions from both northern and southern regions during this ancient period. The practice of ceramic diversity on Isla Colon continued well into the historic period, as Afro-Caribbeans who migrated to the island established extensive trade networks with native and English merchants, introducing English made ceramics to the culture. The historic ceramics recovered from Sitio Drago reveal signs of continuity and change present in foodways. Through a specific selection process these ceramics also offer another glimpse into the identity of Bocas’ historic inhabitants. I suggest that such contributions are the foundations for a Bocatoreno identity.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• British Ceramics in Indigenous, Colonial, and Post-Independence Latin America   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2017

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 544