Complex Histories: American Archaeology and Indigenous Heritage (WRL)

Between the late eighteenth and late nineteenth centuries, white perceptions of Native Americans’ relationship to landscapes of antiquity changed dramatically, from the acknowledgment of Native stewardship of indigenous sites to academic arguments for legislation to protect “ruins” from Native vandals. This shift reflected a growing skepticism of full indigenous membership in the nation that reverberates today. In this talk, Justin Estreicher, doctoral candidate in History at William & Mary, will explain how promoters and practitioners of archaeology historically excluded Native stories from both their discipline and the national narrative.

The Emerging Scholars Series is a partnership between the Arts & Sciences Graduate Center at William & Mary and the Williamsburg Regional Library. The series features W&M graduate students in talks hosted by the WRL intended to bring cutting-edge research to the local community. View the complete 24-25 Series schedule on the William & Mary website.

Emerging Scholars is an exciting ongoing series highlighting the latest research on a variety of topics coming out of William & Mary’s graduate programs in Arts & Sciences.