Plantation Labourer Rebellions, Material Culture and Events: Historical Archaeology at Geneva Estate, Grand Bay, Commonwealth of Dominica

Abstract

This article investigates the role of material culture in the strategies that were adopted by rebels, planter elites and colonial authorities during plantation labourer rebellions, situating the role of material culture within the overlap and clash of these tactics. This is shown through a study of two insurrections in Dominica, including a work stoppage and uprising by slaves in January 1791 and the violent opposition by free labourers to a census in June 1844. The study makes use of ideas drawn from the work of William Sewell, Jr and ‘eventful archaeology’ to make sense of the short- and long-term material impact of these forms of resistance.