Finding Forts and Their Communities: CEO and His Two Cents

Summary

This is an abstract from the "The Transformation of Historical Archaeology: Papers in Honor of Charles E Orser, Jr" session, at the 2019 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

While not a primary focus of his significant research agenda, colonial fortifications introduced a young Charles E. Orser, Jr. to the field of historical archaeology in the 1970s. Later, Orser noted that despite the long tradition of excavation and preservation at these prominent places, fortifications were still understood according to the legacies of former imperial powers rather than the anthropology of these military communities. This paper highlights Orser’s influence on my approach to the study of labor and community life at forts in the colonial Caribbean. Using archives and archaeology from the Cabrits Garrison, Dominica (c. 1763-1854) and Fort Rocky, Jamaica (c. 1880-1945), I reveal the lived experience of African-Caribbean military personnel across time and space in rigid social settings materialized in dynamic daily practices. In the process, I underscore Orser’s influence on my development through his published work, teaching experiences, and personal communication.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2019   •
• The Transformation of Historical Archaeology: Papers in Honor of Charles E Orser, Jr

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 236