1995/10/01 by Theresa A. Singleton · 165 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Social Sciences · #Anthropology #Archaeological record #Archaeology #Archaeology and Rock Art Studies #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Art #Context (archaeology) #Dominance (genetics) #Ecology #Ethnology #Geography #Historical and Cultural Archaeology Studies #History #Identity (music) #Interpretation (philosophy) #Resistance (ecology) #Sociology
paper · doi:10.1146/annurev.an.24.100195.001003
published in Annual Review of Anthropology 24(1), 119-140 (Annual Reviews)
openalex publication_date 1995/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
Archaeologists began to study slavery more than two decades ago, and since that time this interest has rapidly grown to become one of the most popular research specialties in the archaeology of the post-Columbian period. This essay reviews the interpretation of the archaeological record of slavery directed toward the analysis of four themes: living conditions under slavery, status differences within the plantation community, relationships of planter dominance and slave resistance, and formation of African-American cultural identity. It also discusses the sociopolitical context within which this study has operated and strongly recommends that greater efforts be taken to include African-American perspectives to inform this research.