Historic Legacy Project. Nevis West Indies

Location: Nevis, Saint Kitts and Nevis

Season: June 30, 2024 to July 21, 2024

Session Dates: Single session. Three weeks

Application Deadline: January 31, 2024

Deadline Type: Contact for Details

Website: http://www.caribbeanarchaeology.org

Discount for AIA members: University policy does not allow discounts.

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
San Jose State University

Project Director:
Marco Meniketti, PhD. RPA

Project Description:

A two phased project investigating a  habitation site for enslaved plantation laborers dated between 1700-1800 and  an associated plantation factory. Also documenting indigenous pre-contact site threatened by coastal erosion.

For summer 2024 it is proposed that students will revisit a high elevation sugar factory site first discovered in 2012 dating from the 17^th century and the potential site of a habitation zone for enslaved Africans.  A second objective is to document a pre-contact Salodoid era Indigenous site (ca. 950BCE) that is threatened by sea level rise and climate change. Recent storm surge and wave action have rapidly increased erosion and exposed the site to damage. Students will document surface features and artifacts emerging from the site midden. Students will gain experience in both pre-contact and plantation era Caribbean history. Students will also have an opportunity to work at the Nevis archaeological Center to help catalogue orphan collections.

The project is in partnership with the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society.

Project suitable for those with interests in Caribbean history, historical archaeology, and environmental archaeology.

Participants will be trained in all aspects of field work, including total station, GPS, excavation, screening, and faunal analysis, and artifact identification..

Maximum and minimum participants limited to twelve.

Period(s) of Occupation: The sites to be investigated and sampled range in date from 1685-1800 CE and a prehistoric zone date to 950 CE. We will document colonial era sites as well as prehistoric components of landscape.

Notes:
The director has been leading expeditions to Nevis for over twenty years. Covid protocols will be in place. RPA certification is pending. We hold that all students deserve an equitable, safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment free of harassment of any kind. The University has published guidelines for student conduct and the Director upholds the policies of the Society for Historical Archaeology and the Register of Professional Archaeology. Harassment at any level will not be tolerated and will be managed with the seriousness it deserves.

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Full three weeks.

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: Completion of an introductory course in Anthropology, Archaeology or previous experience.

Room and Board Arrangements:
Included in program fee. We stay in a guest house dormitory style. Every room has its own bathroom and shower. Maximum participants per room: three. The house serves as project headquarters. We do our own cooking.

Academic Credit:
Three credits upper division Anthropology (required and included in program fee).