The 'Reuvensdagen' is the only general scientific archaeological congress in the Netherlands, and brings together archaeologists from all walks of life and specialisms. This year the Reuvensdagen will be held in the city Breda on November 17 and 18.
On Thursday November 17, archaeologist Daudi Cijntje will host a session about the archaeology of the islands of the former Dutch Antilles. The presentations are about how archaeological research should be conducted on the islands, perspectives of the local archaeologists, excavation results of the Amboina site on Bonaire, and about the excavations at Golden Rock and Godet on St. Eustatius.
Kenneth Cuvalay, president of the St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance will give one of the three presentations. Other speakers are: Amy Victoria (National Archeological Anthropological Memory Management, NAAM), and Sebastiaan Knippenberg (Archaeological Research Leiden, Archol).
Abstract of the presentation:
The need for an ethical archaeology in the face of colonial practices.
"Archaeology as a science is in many ways based on the legacy of transatlantic slave trade and colonialism with structural Eurocentric models and methods lacking moral principles, respect and dignity towards ancestors and their descendants in general. In this presentation I want to draw attention to two Afrikan Burial Grounds at St. Eustatius: the Godet and Golden Rock, which have been (partly) excavated without the consultation of the local community."
Aim of the Caribbean session
The aim of this Caribbean session as described on the website, is to take a deeper and critical look at how archaeologists should deal with the Caribbean heritage. In addition, research results will be shown from recently conducted research that follows the timeline of the ABCSSS islands (former Dutch Antilles), from the indigenous inhabitants to the period of Spanish and Dutch colonization on the islands.
