"Back to the Soil": Community Archaeology and Heritage Tourism in Eleuthera, Bahamas

Over the past several decades there has been a great deal of archaeological excavation and analysis of both U.S. and Caribbean plantations. However, many of these research projects are designed to address archaeological research questions rather than some of the pressing problems faced by descendant communities concerning their heritage. In 1994, UNESCO launched their “Slave Route” project, with the aim of “contributing to a better understanding of the causes, forms of operation, issues and consequences of slavery,” and to “highlight the global transformation and interactions that resulted from this history.” Few archaeological studies in the Caribbean or the U.S. have focused on these critical, global questions. In this poster we outline a research project that was initiated by descendants of slaves brought to Eleuthera as part of the 18th-19th C Ann Millars Plantation. These families continued to occupy the plantation area well after the post-emancipation period and there continues to be a lasting connection between those original families and contemporary communities. Under the auspices of the Center for Heritage & Society at UMass Amherst, this archaeological project will be an important centerpiece for the ongoing project on heritage and sustainable development on the island.