In this program we will explore the archaeology of Barbados and other Pre-Columbian settlements in the Caribbean islands. With a focus toward examining migration theories, settlement patterns, subsistence strategies and the development of cultural complexity through time, we will examine the rich archaeological and historical record of a region that often receives little attention from introductory textbooks and discussions of world prehistory. Toward the end of the course, we will discuss how many of these smaller island states, dependent on the tourist industry for income, have grappled with preserving the past in the post-colonial era.

The class will involve an archaeological field project on Barbados for two weeks and include archaeological and laboratory work such as survey, excavation, cleaning, cataloging, and the identification of different cultural remains that are recovered as part of fieldwork.