Archaeological Histories of the Silas Tobias and Jacob and Hannah Hart Sites

Chapter 4 provides an overview of the historical and archaeological data collected for this study. The history and of the occupants of the Silas Tobias and Jacob and Hannah Hart sites are outlined. Archaeological fieldwork methods and results are detailed. The chapter shows the integrity of the two sites and confirms their association with members of the Setauket’s historic community of color.

Material Histories and the Dynamics of Racism in Setauket

Chapter 5 interprets the material culture collected from the excavations of the Silas Tobias and Jacob and Hannah Hart sites. Discussions of each collection provide an understanding of how life for people of color in Setauket changed due to increasing restrictions on their freedom and autonomy after the end of slavery. Analysis of faunal, botanical, lithic, ceramic, glass, and architectural artifacts are the main focus.

A Counter-Map of Setauket

Chapter 2 presents the concept of a counter-map. A counter-map of Setauket is presented through a narrative tour of sites associated with the history of Setauket’s people of color. A study of a special collection of artifacts from the 1970s provides reflection of the relationships and families that have been the key to the survival of the community of color.

Conclusion

Chapter 6 provides a reflection of the findings of the book. A story of recent resistance to the marginalization of people of color in the community provides the framework. Resistance to white racism and appropriated histories are a framework for understanding how people of color claimed their civil rights for the last two hundred years. The chapter concludes with a proposal for an affirmative action program in the heritage industry.

From Creole Synthesis to Racial Modernity

Chapter 3 examines the history of people of color on Long Island. It argues that race relations worsened through time shifting from a time of an intercultural creole synthesis to a more alienating time of racial modernity. The chapter consists of three parallel studies that illustrate this transformation: a study of the artwork of William Sidney Mount, a study of the representation of people of color in Long Island newspapers, and a study of residential racial segregation in the Town of Brookhaven.

Introduction

This chapter introduces the A Long Time Coming project. It discusses the background of the community under study as well as the theories and approaches that frame the book. These include historical archaeology, community archaeology, decolonization, structural racism, and archaeology as political action.

How History Controls the Past

This chapter presents the principle historical and heritage narratives in Setauket, New York. It examines the idea of an authorized heritage discourse as well as the content of this discourse in Setauket. The chapter shows how people of color are marginalized by the dominant heritage narrative.