Cultural Resilience and Lithic Traditions: Examining Stone Tool Use and Production by Enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and Africa

Abstract

This thesis explores the continuation of African stone tool-making traditions among enslaved Africans in the Caribbean, specifically through case studies in Jamaica and St. Kitts. By examining archaeological evidence, this study argues that enslaved Africans on these islands were not merely passive recipients of new cultural influences but actively maintained and adapted their traditional lithic practices. The findings challenge the prevailing narrative that attributes all stone tools in the New World solely to Native American or European origins. Instead, they suggest a more complex picture of cultural persistence and adaptation, with enslaved Africans using their ancestral knowledge to produce and utilize stone tools in novel contexts. This research contributes to a broader understanding of the African Diaspora by highlighting the resilience and creativity of enslaved communities, who maintained cultural continuity despite displacement and enslavement. The study also underscores the need for re-evaluating the cultural significance of stone tools found at archaeological sites in the Caribbean, urging scholars to consider the contributions of African traditions in shaping the material culture of the region.