Dialogues in Cuban Archaeology (review)

This collection of essays hopefully will mark the beginning of a new era in Caribbean archaeology. The chapters are excellent and provide an important view into Cuban archaeology that will facilitate entrée for those unable to obtain Cuban publications or read Spanish. The major contribution of this work is that it highlights Cuban archaeology as a dynamic field of study and not simply a legacy of the Cold War.

The editors point out that the Cuban embargo has stifled communication between Cuban archaeologists and their colleagues, especially those in the United States. They rightfully recognize that social and political agendas are important in charting these relations. However, the Cuban embargo does not explain why the archaeologies of Jamaica, Haiti, and the Bahamas similarly are neglected. The problem is that until recently there has not been much interest, partly because Cuban and U.S. archaeologists have pursed different meta-theories. More generally, what have been missing are research questions that make Cuban, Jamaican, and Bahamian archaeologies relevant to the rest of Caribbean archaeology.

The first part of the book consists of four chapters on the history and organization of Cuban archaeology presented in a chronological framework. The development of Historical Archaeology, the subject of Chapter 4, highlights the fact that Cuba has long had the premier program in historical archaeology in the Americas. Although this may be due to a strong sense of patria, this does not diminish their unparalleled accomplishments. The history of rock art research documents a long-standing commitment and innovation in this field of study (Chapter 5). It provides an important foundation for comparative investigations both within the Caribbean and with other parts of the Americas.

The second part deals with particular case studies. First, Cuban archaeologists for years have been investigating early ceramics associated with an Archaic tool kit. Archaeologists working on other islands are just beginning to recognize this pottery horizon, which begins up to 2,000 years before pottery supposedly was first introduced. Chapter 6 provides the most comprehensive discussion of early ceramics available in English, and discusses the implications for the colonization and cultural development of the Caribbean.

The El Chorro de Maíta is a truly spectacular site, examined in Chapter 7. Located in the municipality of Banes on the northeast coast, it dates from about A.D. 900 until after European contact, and has yielded the largest number of gold and brass artifacts found anywhere in the Antilles. The analysis of settlement patterns, community plan, mortuary practices, and metal ornaments promises to improve greatly our understanding of Taíno culture in the years prior to and after European contact.

The turtle, frog, and crying figure motifs on pottery vessels are the main themes of Chapter 8. The author demonstrates that Marxist interpretations have not ignored elements of "superstructure." Furthermore, most investigations of mythical symbols have focused on the early Ceramic Age, while studies of later ceramics have tended simply to classify these motifs. In contrast, this chapter delves into their evolution and their meanings in reference to recorded beliefs.

In Chapter 9, La Rosa Corzo presents a fascinating study of subsistence practices among cimarrones who escaped into the mountains. The identification of food remains, along with the identification of common materials recycled for use as tools (e.g., bottle glass, clay pipes), provides a fascinating new perspective on these peoples that conventional histories largely ignore. Investigation of the Cuban Cafetal del Padre (coffee plantation) provides an important new perspective on slavery, as explored in Chapter 10. Slavery in the Caribbean was not a uniform phenomenon; it varied according to the cultivated crops, characteristics of the island and specific plantation settings. It is only through comparative analyses that a fuller appreciation of the experiences of enslaved peoples will be developed.

This book is essential reading for everyone interested in Caribbean archaeology and history, and Cuba in general. Hopefully, it will live up...