Out of many, one people : the historical archaeology of colonial Jamaica /

This important volume compiles key historical archaeological studies from Jamaica. Chapters address central themes in Jamaican history, including Spanish colonial settlement in the 16th century, British settlement and urban life in the 17th century, slavery and plantation life, and maroon resistance. Maureen J. Brown's insightful essay sheds new light on tavern culture and merchant activities in 17th-century Port Royal. Editor Delle provides a theoretically sophisticated analysis of Jamaican plantation landscapes. Essays by editor Hauser and Matthew Reeves offer unique perspectives on internal marketing systems. The volume includes a good blend of underwater and terrestrial archaeological studies. While Jamaica has been a primary focus of historical archaeological research in the Caribbean since the underwater studies of Port Royal in the 1950s, this is the first edited volume to synthesize the broad range of historical archaeological scholarship in Jamaica. Moreover, there are only a handful of edited volumes concerning historical archaeology in the Caribbean. Although the book focuses solely on the Jamaican experience, the breadth and scope of the essays add significantly to understanding the processes shaping life in the broader Atlantic world. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. F. H. Smith College of William and Mary