Transformative Placemaking: The Intersection of Art, Archaeology, and the Community in Freedom City

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Community Archaeology in 2020: Conventional or Revolutionary?" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Community-engaged archaeology as a de-colonizing practice has seen a greater emphasis in academic discourse in recent years. However, there is still much work to be done to break down the many barriers within the discipline that impede true collaborative relationships and partnerships. For descendants and communities of color developing equitable and collaborative partnerships are especially necessary for reclaiming historical narratives and reconciling injustices of the past. In St. Croix a community revitalization project “Invisible Heritage” is underway to uncover and preserve the historical narratives of Frederiksted’s Free Gut neighborhood; a historic free black community established in 1777 that served as a catalyst for resistance and social justice in both the U.S. Virgin Islands and in the United States. This case-study exemplifies how integrating historical archaeology into established and ongoing community efforts can transform it from being a tool of oppression and exclusion, to an instrument of healing and empowerment.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020   •
• Community Archaeology in 2020: Conventional or Revolutionary?

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 653