Whispers of Caribbean Isles: Inclusive Narratives for pre-Columbian Archaeology Collections

‘Whispers of Caribbean Isles: Inclusive Narratives for pre-Columbian Archaeology Collections' is a Research Project held at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) at the University of Cambridge. The project is funded by a small grant from the Collections-Connections-Communities Strategic Research Initiative and aims to trial new ways of connecting existing collections at University Museums with stakeholder communities locally and abroad. 

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Researchers sit around a table looking at Caribbean artefacts from a box to the left of the image.

This project aims to delve into the Caribbean's pre-Columbian history by engaging in inclusive and multivocal dialogues with contemporary Caribbean communities in Cambridge and beyond. Participants will have a unique opportunity to uncover and reconnect with the hidden histories stored in the MAA collections, fostering a deeper understanding of Indigenous pasts in the insular Americas. The project is designed to promote more inclusive and restorative narratives of memory and identity through participatory research by piloting a digital platform.

This project will hopefully open the door for larger projects of this style in multiple islands of the Caribbean and open new avenues of engagement and discussion on the nature of Caribbean collections, the historic relationships between institutions in the Caribbean and Europe, and decolonizing practices and repatriation in heritage management and museum curatorship. 

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The project is taking place from November 2023-April 2024. Learn more by visiting the project's Team page.