The Empire Pushes Back: Decolonizing archaeological practices through critical ethnography in Carriacou

Abstract

This dissertation explores the intersection of postcolonial theory and archaeology as itrelates to the process of collaboratively investigating Indigenous Caribbean heritage within an Afro-Caribbean community. The dissertation uses ethnographic methods informed by Decolonizing theory to discover ways that archaeological methodologies might be augmented to include cultural methods and forms of community engagement. The study, conducted on the island of Carriacou, examines the possibility that archaeologists may sometimes limit the type or nature of collaborative projects due to a site’s assumed cultural and historical classification. The identification of sites based on the perceived ancestry of site’s inhabitants can limit archaeologists' ability to create inclusive collaborative projects with diverse descendants in postcolonial contexts like the Caribbean. Research on Carriacou provides a case study illustrating how groups develop relationships with their past, and how these affinities may transcend the racial or ancestral boundaries assumed by investigators. The dissertation aims to improve archaeological practice by suggesting the inclusion of additional trainings or personnel that enhance relationships with local communities and contribute to closer collaboration between archaeologists and stakeholders. The dissertation concludes that the addition of qualitative research methodologies to archaeological investigations can improve local/team collaboration and contribute to decolonizing practices.