The Archaeology of the African Diaspora

Abstract

Archaeologists currently studying the African diaspora generally examine three broad issues, in decreasing order of prominence: the material identification of African identity, the archaeology of freedom at maroon sites, and race and racism. While conducting this research, several scholars have learned that many nonarchaeologists are deeply interested in their interpretations. At the present time, the archaeology of the African diaspora is not a truly global pursuit and the New World is overrepresented. This situation should change as archaeologists around the world discover post-Columbian archaeology and take up diasporic investigations.

An Archaeology of Community Life: Appalachia, 1865–1920

“…Du Bois homesite (Muller 1994;Paynter et al 1996). Yet, generally plantations and slavery have been the defining diasporic experiences (e.g., Agorsah 1996;Babson 1990;Farnsworth 2000;Orser 1998;Singleton 1985Singleton , 1995Singleton , 1999. Archaeological research on the African diaspora has focused on the material identification of African identity (e.g., Farnsworth 2001;Fennell 2000Fennell , 2003Fennell , 2007Ferguson 1980Ferguson , 1992Franklin 2001;McCarthy 1997;Orser 2001), the archaeology of freedom at Maroon sites (e.g., Agorsah 1994;Orser and Funari 2001;Weik 1997), and the archaeology of race and racism (e.g., Epperson 2004;Garman 1994;Mullins 1999;Orser 1999Orser , 2001Orser , 2004.…”

The Ransom and Sarah Williams Farmstead: Post-Emancipation Transitions of an African American Family in Central Texas Vol. 2

“…The oral history project was a significant factor in these outreach efforts since it helped to open up lines of communication between researchers and the community. A growing number of archeologists are involving descendants in their research at various levels of engagement as commitment to deal responsibly with the profession's racial politics spreads (Epperson 2004;Franklin and Paynter 2010;LaRoche and Blakey 1997;McDavid 2002;McGuire 2008;Mullins 2007Mullins , 2008Orser 1998;Palus et al 2006;Potter 1991Potter , 1994Scham 2001;Singleton 1999 ed. ;Young 2004).…”

“…A growing number of archeologists across the country believe it is important to involve the descendant communities and seek their input to interpret archeological findings and examine alternative perspectives (e.g., Babiarz 2011;Barnes 2011:1-17;Epperson 2004;Fennell 2007;Ferguson 1992;LaRoche and Blakey 1997;McDavid 2007;McDavid et al 2012;McGhee 2007McGhee , 2008Mullins 1999aMullins , 1999bMullins , 2007Mullins , 2008Orser 2001 ed. ;Orser 1998Orser , 2001Singleton 1988;Stine 1990). The team members of the Williams Farmstead Archeological Project agree with this vision, and this was translated into an extensive community outreach component culminating in a two-volume oral history book (Franklin 2012).…”

Play Things: Children’s Racialized Mechanical Banks and Toys, 1880–1930

“…Indeed, "Of all the American popular genres using African-American imagery, children's games have been among the most uniformly negative" (Mercier n.d.). The process of African American racialization has been discussed at length elsewhere (see, for example, Berlin 1998;Orser 1998Orser , 2004Orser , 2007. While phenotypic differences played a major role in the racialization of African Americans, issues of stereotyped culture and class were also vital in the formation of the "Black" race.…”