Partnering with Descendant Communities: Investigating the Dorsey Site, an 1874 African American Farm in Sugarland, Maryland

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Transformations in Professional Archaeology" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The current symposium explores how professional archaeology is changing. In the past 25 years, we have increased partnerships, and collaboration, with descendant voices changing the practice of archaeology. Toward that end, in 2020 the Sugarland Ethno-History Project (SEHP) leadership initiated the investigation of the Basil and Nancy Dorsey’s 1874 smallest farm in Sugarland. Sugarland, Maryland is one of the best-documented historic African American communities in the county. Founded in 1871, Sugarland once boasted a church, a community hall, a US Post Office, a grocery store, and a school. In 2020 the SEHP published its history in a book and the following year published the first Dorsey Site Archaeology Report, a virtual exhibit and walk-through, as well as an Archaeology Curriculum Module for K–12 teachers. Working closely with the SEHP Board and Sugarland Descendants, I was able to incorporate their voices into reports and curriculum. Working together meant we imparted to young people the realities of thriving in an early African American community. By interpreting the Dorsey Site, we enhance Sugarland's written history and broaden the conversation to include contributions African American people made to society.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)   •
• Transformations in Professional Archaeology

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 38509.0