Rethinking Colonialism: Comparative Archaeological Approaches ed. by Craig N. Cipolla, Katherine Howlett Hayes (review)

Rethinking Colonialism attempts to bring New World and Old World archaeology into dialogue, exploring past practices as well as contemporary consequences in the study of colonialism. It represents a significant step forward within the discipline of archaeology by releasing colonialism from the traditional geographical and temporal boundaries that often characterize conventional research. Furthermore, the book has the additional benefit of revealing the unintended consequences of traditional ideas about the past on contemporary peoples. Its comparison across geographical and temporal regions, along with its emphasis on the contemporary impacts of archaeological research, is a valuable contribution in its own right.

The methodologies that the contributors employ include analyses of material culture, built heritage, grave markers, geography, ethnography, and historical records—depending on their specific interests and specialties. For example, Cipolla examines grave markers, built heritage, material culture, and written documents to explore the reasons for changes within the Pequot and Brothertown communities. In contrast, Lúcio Menezes Ferreria and Pedro Paulo A. Funari provide a primarily narrative account of slavery in Brazil and the development of a long-term archaeological project to study Maroon identity in the country.

Beyond demonstrating the many ways in which methodologies and data sets can enter into investigations, the authors’ approaches per se do not necessarily cover any new ground; the multitemporal and multiscalar incorporation of data sets is a long-standing practice within the archaeological discipline. Some of the conceptual frameworks in the book, however, challenge habitual perspectives: Paul R. Mullins and Timo Ylimaunu use the presence of silverware in seventeenth- and eighteenthcentury Finland to demonstrate that wealth/poverty cannot be established solely by the presence/absence of prestige goods. Katherine H. Hayes uses Indigenous and African-American archaeological findings in the United States to highlight misapprehensions regarding the concept of diaspora in many Indigenous contexts. Stephen A. Mrozowski, D. Rae Gould, and Heather Law Pezzarossi’s careful look at the New England Praying Indian communities reveals complex daily lived experiences instead of the stark colonial trajectory that often underpins academic research. Richard Hingley’s ethnographical study of what Britons now think of Hadrian’s Wall examines the issue of indigenousness and the role that mythical and public histories play in shaping public understandings and historical research. The novel critiques and standpoints within this volume are broadly applicable, having the potential to serve as discussion points across disciplines.

Overall, Cipolla andHayes have compiled an interesting and engaging collection that encompasses a variety of topics and geographical/temporal areas. The book’s methodologies and data cover the traditional stomping grounds of archaeological research, but the ideas that underpin the research should be of interest to researchers who study colonialism throughout history, anywhere around the globe.