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The Mauritian Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Project : exploring the impact of colonialism and colonisation in the Indian Ocean

Seetah, Krish ; Balbo, Andrea ; Calaon, Diego ; Caval, Sasa ; Farr, Helen ; Pluskowski, Aleksander ; Appleby, Joanna ; Durand, Carine ; Lightfoot, Emma and Morales, Jacob , et al. (2011) In Antiquity 85.
Abstract
The main aim of this project is to understand how European colonial activity influenced environmental and cultural transformations in this region of the Indian Ocean (Seetah 2010) by targeting specific locations (Figure 2), incorporating slave, indentured and imperial sites, as well as sites with high eco-archaeological potential. Establishing base-line soil conditions formed the focus of the first season and centred on a site in the north of the island at Mon Choisy (overall size 800m!). It forms part of a former plantation and offers a valuable opportunity to record the transition from virgin soil to agriculture. Core data showed clear indications of enrichment, with 14C dating providing a timeframe for the agricultural intensification... (More)
The main aim of this project is to understand how European colonial activity influenced environmental and cultural transformations in this region of the Indian Ocean (Seetah 2010) by targeting specific locations (Figure 2), incorporating slave, indentured and imperial sites, as well as sites with high eco-archaeological potential. Establishing base-line soil conditions formed the focus of the first season and centred on a site in the north of the island at Mon Choisy (overall size 800m!). It forms part of a former plantation and offers a valuable opportunity to record the transition from virgin soil to agriculture. Core data showed clear indications of enrichment, with 14C dating providing a timeframe for the agricultural intensification of sugar agriculture that coincided with the arrival of the British. Subsequent research has centred on broadening the geographical and thematic scope of the project to delve deeper into the human and ecological implications of satisfying Europe's appetite for sugar. (Less)
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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Archaeology, Colonialism, Colonisation, Cultural Heritage Project, Indian Ocean, Mauritius
in
Antiquity
volume
85
publisher
Antiquity
ISSN
0003-598X
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
c58d158c-aff1-4fee-9eee-442706da7cda
alternative location
http://hdl.handle.net/10261/75108
date added to LUP
2022-01-11 17:39:30
date last changed
2022-01-24 11:50:35
@article{c58d158c-aff1-4fee-9eee-442706da7cda,
  abstract     = {{The main aim of this project is to understand how European colonial activity influenced environmental and cultural transformations in this region of the Indian Ocean (Seetah 2010) by targeting specific locations (Figure 2), incorporating slave, indentured and imperial sites, as well as sites with high eco-archaeological potential. Establishing base-line soil conditions formed the focus of the first season and centred on a site in the north of the island at Mon Choisy (overall size 800m!). It forms part of a former plantation and offers a valuable opportunity to record the transition from virgin soil to agriculture. Core data showed clear indications of enrichment, with 14C dating providing a timeframe for the agricultural intensification of sugar agriculture that coincided with the arrival of the British. Subsequent research has centred on broadening the geographical and thematic scope of the project to delve deeper into the human and ecological implications of satisfying Europe's appetite for sugar.}},
  author       = {{Seetah, Krish and Balbo, Andrea and Calaon, Diego and Caval, Sasa and Farr, Helen and Pluskowski, Aleksander and Appleby, Joanna and Durand, Carine and Lightfoot, Emma and Morales, Jacob and Moreno Escobar, Maria del Carmen}},
  issn         = {{0003-598X}},
  keywords     = {{Archaeology; Colonialism; Colonisation; Cultural Heritage Project; Indian Ocean; Mauritius}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Antiquity}},
  series       = {{Antiquity}},
  title        = {{The Mauritian Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Project : exploring the impact of colonialism and colonisation in the Indian Ocean}},
  url          = {{http://hdl.handle.net/10261/75108}},
  volume       = {{85}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}