African Identity and Archaeology at Kingsley Plantation
— African Identity Discovered Through Archaeology —
Artifacts recovered by archaeologists provide clues as to who these enslaved African men, women and children were. This is most easily recognized within the realm of spirituality or religion, which is resistant to change. However, the physical remains of such practices are extremely subtle.
Personal CharmsBlue Beads in doorway of cabins
There is a belief in many African cultures that beads have supernatural powers and can be worn to provide protection from harm. Archaeologists recovered several blue beads from two slave cabins. The beads varied in shape and size, suggesting that they were selected specifically for their color. Evidence from other antebellum plantations suggests that the color blue had spiritual or religious meaning.
House CharmsIron hoe at back doors of cabins (left)
The Ibo have a strong tradition of house charms. Iron is often buried to prevent any harm from entering the house. In 2006 an agricultural hoe was found buried at the back doorway of a cabin. A similar placement of a hoe, axe blade, and other iron objects was found at the back door of a cabin in 1968. Archaeologists believe the placement of these objects was intentional.
River pebbles and small cobbles (right)
The Ibo and other African cultures saw the potential of natural objects to be spiritually charged, and often collected objects such as smooth stones to be used as house charms.
Animal SacrificeChicken sacrifice buried in floor of cabin / Deer leg buried in doorway of cabin.
The most spectacular find relating to African spirituality was the remains of a chicken found under the floor of a slave cabin. The chicken was buried with an unbroken egg, a glass bead, and a piece of iron.
Animal sacrifice was practiced by some cultures in Africa to mark births and deaths, and as offering to specific deities. This chicken may have been sacrificed to appease earth spirits disturbed during the initial construction of the cabin. The partial deer leg buried in the doorway of an adjacent cabin may be a similar offering.
Despite being stolen from their former world through enslavement, the men, women, and children who lived at this plantation retained their African traditions. Archaeology provides a window into how the slaves at Kingsley Plantation maintained their African identity.
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