A Field of Many Faces: A multidisciplinary mnemonic for interpreting ambiguous archaeological material from El Carril, Dominican Republic (1100-1400 AD)

This thesis focusses the interpretation of ambiguous archaeological material found at the pre- Columbian site of El Carril (1100–1400 AD) in the northwestern Dominican Republic. It aims effectively document and interpret ambiguous features from this site by combining both Western scientific methodologies and Indigenous cosmological themes within a decolonial and theoretically reflective archaeological framework. By using this site and its material as a case study, this thesis will discuss broader ontological and epistemological issues in Caribbean archaeology. Incorporating on a multidisciplinary theoretical framework, this study examines the hegemonical naturalist perspective prevalent in Western academia in relation to Amazonian perspectivism and Historical Indigenous Caribbean worldviews. Rather than putting these perspectives against each other, this thesis will aim to combine and use these perspectives in its theoretical framework to manoeuvre the risks of misinterpretation...Show moreThis thesis focusses the interpretation of ambiguous archaeological material found at the pre- Columbian site of El Carril (1100–1400 AD) in the northwestern Dominican Republic. It aims effectively document and interpret ambiguous features from this site by combining both Western scientific methodologies and Indigenous cosmological themes within a decolonial and theoretically reflective archaeological framework. By using this site and its material as a case study, this thesis will discuss broader ontological and epistemological issues in Caribbean archaeology. Incorporating on a multidisciplinary theoretical framework, this study examines the hegemonical naturalist perspective prevalent in Western academia in relation to Amazonian perspectivism and Historical Indigenous Caribbean worldviews. Rather than putting these perspectives against each other, this thesis will aim to combine and use these perspectives in its theoretical framework to manoeuvre the risks of misinterpretation inherent in cross-cultural archaeological analysis. Through the integration of anthropological, philosophical, and archaeological literature, the thesis explores how the entanglement of the natural world is approached and defined within Caribbean Archaeology, and places these concepts within a broader discussion of belief systems and academic interpretive frameworks. It offers its own theoretical framework of “the living landscape” in order to approach a more practical outlook on the entanglement of natural features within Indigenous archaeological sites in the Greater Antilles. In order to encourage inclusivity and democratisation within academia, this research has employed an combination of low-budget documentation techniques including slow observation, mobile phone cameras, free-to-use 3D photogrammetry and graphics software, and experimental archaeology. By implementing these strategies, this thesis presents an methodology which can be followed by anyone in order to create archaeological datasets wherever possible. Through this methodology anyone with access to a smartphone can be able to create high quality 3D models of singular archaeological features. In addition, this thesis utilizes the participation of the local community with the interpretation of ambiguous material in order to explore incorporating local knowledge within archaeological interpretation. This thesis ultimately argues that ambiguity in archaeological material should not be treated as an obstacle to interpretation, but as a phenomenon that reflects the complexities of layered ontological perspectives. This thesis advocates for an academic archaeological community that remains an open mind to local knowledge systems and recognizes the limitations of Western epistemologies. The study proposed future research in order to create open-access platforms where ambiguous datasets can be collaboratively interpreted by both Western naturalist scholars and Indigenous communities, fostering a more inclusive and reflexive archaeology. By offering both theoretical and practical strategies for interpreting ambiguous Indigenous material culture, this thesis aims to contribute to ongoing discussions on decolonizing archaeological practice and proposes a model for ethical engagement with the cultural heritage of past communities.Show less

Leiden University Student Repository

Documents

In Collections

A Field of Many Faces: A multidisciplinary mnemonic for interpreting ambiguous archaeological material from El Carril, Dominican Republic (1100-1400 AD)