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Journal article
When Provenience Is Lost: Achievements and Challenges in Preserving the Historical St. John's, Belize, Skeletal Collection
Advances in archaeological practice : a journal of the Society of American archeaology, Vol.7(1), pp.40-46
02/01/2019
Web of Science ID: WOS:000467217400006
Abstract
In small developing countries like Belize, lack of funding for archaeological research and post excavation curation remains one of our greatest challenges to preserving our tangible cultural heritage. The state of curation of human remains and artefact collections at St. John's College in Belize City is a perfect example of what can go wrong in the absence of a properly funded and managed curation program both at the national and the institutional level. This article highlights the rediscovery of a historically significant group of over 70 human remains in the biological collection of Friar Deickman, which had been forgotten in an attic after his death in 2003. We outline the process of, and accomplishments in improving the curation conditions of these individuals while uncovering their importance to Belizean history in the eighteenth through twentieth centuries. Preliminary analysis reveals life histories of slavery and indentured servitude of individuals of African, Maya, European, and possible mixed African and European descent. We emphasize the importance of ethical responsibility in properly curating excavated human remains, and the challenges researchers face when poor curation results in lost provenience. We offer suggestions for scientific analysis in recovering information lost as a result of poor excavation or curation methods.
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Details
- Title
- When Provenience Is Lost: Achievements and Challenges in Preserving the Historical St. John's, Belize, Skeletal Collection
- Publication Details
- Advances in archaeological practice : a journal of the Society of American archeaology, Vol.7(1), pp.40-46
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Cambridge Univ Press
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- St. John's College Women's Philanthropic Leadership Council at Indiana University East
- Copyright
- 2019 © Society for American Archaeology
- Identifiers
- WOS:000467217400006; 99380171550906600
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology; College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities
- Language
- English