Course Description
The course will explore maritime research in Africa and the Caribbean focusing on geographic areas and time periods where archaeological evidence has supplemented the historical record. Themes cover indigenous communities and watercraft, shipwrecks and survivor narratives, seaports, maritime landscapes, and colonial commerce with an emphasis on the slave trade, whaling and plantation systems. It will address complex associated issues such as ethnicity, identity, cultural exchange and conflict represented by ethnographies and diverse material culture case studies including artifact assemblages, iconography, and artwork. The course will also introduce maritime archaeology capacity building initiatives and assess the challenges of sustaining successful management and heritage tourism initiatives.
Course Structure
The class will be conducted in a seminar format. Each session will begin with a lecture by the professor followed by student perspectives of readings – which include articles, reports and book chapters. We may deviate from the syllabus from time to time to pursue other topics of interest to the students participating in the class. On occasion guest speakers with expertise in specific areas of research of management will give presentations as an integral parts of the class syllabus.