Black History Month: An Appropriate Time to Reflect on Archaeology's Colonial Roots

 When you think of what an archaeologist looks like, you probably think of someone like Indian Jones, Laura Croft, or even myself (a white female). What do all of us have in common though, whether real or fictitious? We are all white. The hard truth is that archaeology has its roots in colonialism. While this is most definitely unfortunate, it is important that archaeologists come to terms with  and acknowledge this in order to move forward and mend relationships with those communities and cultures that may have been taken advantage of early on in the field's history. One of the results stemming from its colonial beginnings is the fact that archaeology is dominated by Caucasian archaeologists. Related to that is the issue that those that do not identify as white, are often not accepted into the field or are pressured into studying their own ancestral history rather than the topics of their choosing. At its worst, the colonial origins of archaeology has helped fuel racism and perpetuated white supremacy throughout history.  

Colonial practices have lead to many misinterpretations
of archaeological sites, including this one in
Zimbabwe. Archaeologists perpetuated the idea that
 this wall and tower structure were constructed by 
outsiders rather than Africans (photo courtesy of 
The Conversation)

Having recognized this issue, there is a movement among many archaeologists to change things. One of archaeology's strengths is the ability to tell the story of those forgotten or neglected in the history books (which were often written by, you guessed it, white dudes!). Everybody leaves a mark upon this earth, and that includes minorities, women, and children, all of who are often excluded from historical documentation for a variety of reasons.  Having more diversity in a branch of science dedicated to studying past cultures can only be beneficial to ensure a more holistic and inclusive interpretation of our collective past. 

This leads us to highlight The Society of Black Archaeologists. Established in 2011, this organization is dedicated to both working to  diversify the field of archaeology and ensuring the ethical treatment of African and African diaspora cultural remains.  One of their projects includes documenting the experience of black archaeologists through their Oral History Project (very insightful, be sure to check it out!). This project not only documents their experiences, but also highlights the successes and contributions made by archaeologists of African descent. If you would like to learn more about efforts regarding archaeology and historic preservation of sites significant to African descendant communities, their resources page is a great place to get started. Of course, the responsibility of mending past and current injustices in archaeology does not rest solely on the shoulders of the oppressed. It is up to every archaeologist, historian, and all those interested in the study of the past, to ensure that we include stories from all walks of life in our documented history, and that anybody who wants to study the past has the opportunity to do so.