Slaves to Sailors: the archaeology of traditional Caribbean shore whaling c.1850–2000. A case study from Barbados and Bequia (St Vincent Grenadines)

Abstract

The archaeology of the post‐Emancipation Caribbean remains relatively understudied. The collapse of the industrial‐scale sugar plantation systems of the islands in the early 19th century saw a radical re‐organization of socio‐economic life. A new corpus of consumers was created, eking out a living on the margins of island society, but never quite liberated. This period sees the emergence of an Afro‐Caribbean maritime culture focused upon shipbuilding, fishing, turtling and whaling, the latter a particular feature of the eastern Caribbean (Windward Islands). The archaeology of whaling communities, is relatively well understood from the perspective of North America, Australasia and Europe, but less so in the Caribbean. Using two case studies based upon recent excavation and survey work, this paper sheds light on a distinctive maritime cultural response in the post‐emancipation Eastern Caribbean world.

De esclavos a marineros: arqueología de la cacería costera tradicional de ballenas ca. 1850–2000. un estudio de caso de barbados y bequia (san vicente y las granadinas)

La arqueología del Caribe tras la emancipación ha sido escasamente estudiada. El colapso de los sistemas de las plantaciones azucareras insulares de escala industrial a comienzos del siglo XIX conllevó una reorganización radical de la vida socio‐económica. Se creó un nuevo grupo de consumidores que subsistían en los márgenes de las sociedades isleñas, pero no habían sido plenamente liberados. Este periodo vio emerger una cultura marítima afrocaribeña concentrada en la construcción naval, la pesca y la caza de tortugas y ballenas. Esta última, fue una actividad particular del Caribe Oriental (Islas de Barlovento). La arqueología de las comunidades balleneras de Norte América, Australasia y Europa está relativamente bien comprendida, a diferencia de lo que sucede con ésta misma práctica en el Caribe. Éste artículo arroja una luz sobre una respuesta característica de la cultura marítima del Caribe Oriental, a través de dos estudios de caso recientemente excavados y prospectados.

Traducción: Ricardo Borrero (with thanks to the Honor Frost Foundation)

Key words:

• historical archaeology
• Caribbean boatbuilding
• whaling
• Caribbean maritime history
• Bequia
• Barbados

Acknowledgements

Research for this paper was supported by the University of Winchester. The kind help of the following is acknowledged: In Barbados: Clement Armstrong, Mike Bowey, Dan Carsten, Alissandra Cummins, Kevin Farmer, Adrian Roache, Karl Watson and Paul Wragg. On Bequia, Nicola Redway, the late Pat Mitchell and Herman Belmar were great sources of help and information about the whaling industry and Bequia's maritime culture in general. Mr Orbin Ollivierre, master Bequia boatbuilder, helped clarify points of whaling boat construction. The 2015 University of Winchester Bequia archaeological team of Harvey Doolan, Dan Heale, Alice McGahon (who produced an undergraduate dissertation on whaling heritage), Adela Murray‐Brown and Alex Rowbottom contributed towards survey and excavation. This paper was improved greatly by the input from two anonymous referees; their kind attention to detail is acknowledged. Although the author has never met him or corresponded with him, this paper is dedicated to Douglas Pyle, a pioneer who showed us the way.

Notes

1. Recording of the boat hulls in the Bequia Boat Museum was undertaken by the student team from Winchester University as part of a training exercise in boat survey. Douglas Pyle had produced an excellent lines drawing of the Dart in 1973 (1998: 36); the drawing published herein was produced in a museums context rather than on the beach as Pyle had to do, so there may inevitably be some small variance between the end results.