Historical and Archaeological Society the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda

Historical and Archaeological Society The Museum of Antigua and Barbuda “Knowledge to be of any Value must be Communicated” HAS Newsletter No. 137 April, May, June 2017 In this Issue… Leading archaeologist pleads for developers to Leading archaeologist pleads for assess their sites developers to assess their sites Extracted from “The Daily Observer Extracted from “The Daily Observer Newspaper” Newspaper” Page 1, 2 Antigua & Barbuda’s Historical Roots of Street dancing leading archaeologist is By Selvyn Walter pleading with developers to Page 3, 4 assess the historical and archaeological value of their Untold History Behind Bangles (Manillas): “Slave Trade Money” To properties before they begin the Must Have Accessory construction. Excerpt from Origin Culture Page 4, 5 The call came a day after the Coarse Salt Development Control By Selvyn Walter Authority (DCA) reported Dr. Reginald Murphy Page 5, 6, 7 it sent inspectors to Yida International Investment Antigua Limited’s Christmas to Carnival construction site at Guiana Island after the developer bulldozed a From Culture Magazine by Cultural historic Arawak site. Division Vol. 3 July 1993 Page 7, 8, 9,10,11,12 He said that the site in question was known to be a “late period Archaeologist calls for laws to protect Arawak site that dates from around 900 AD to 1200 AD” and added, historical sites “To state any mo re than that I would be guessing because the site Extracted from “The Daily Observer Newspaper” no longer exists except for a very small part of it. This site was in Page12, 13 thick bushes for all these years and because of that no one has ever done a thorough survey.” Chronological Inventory of Antigua Newspapers Page 13 Dr Murphy argued that developers should not view an archaeological assessment of their site as a process that would impede their projects. Muse News Page 14 “The policy in archaeology is not to stop development but to guide development and assist. Notices and Events Page 15, 16 (Continued on page 2) HAS Newsletter No. 137 Page 2 April, May, June 2017 Leading archaeologist pleads for developers to assess Board of Directors their sites (Continued from page 1) Walter Berridge Chairman To know the history of a site enriches your development and enriches your project. We recover what we can before it’s developed but it’s a one way Reg Murphy road – once it’s destroyed that’s it, he said. President Dr. Murphy used the proposed Royalton Antigua Hotel & Resort at Deep Janice Augustin Bay Beach as a successful example of a developer incorporating an Secretary archaeological assessment before developing their site. Avril Hector Susan Lowes At a September 2016 public consultation following the study done on that Janice Okeefe site Dr. Murphy said, “We found no archaeological material of serious Members significance to say that this project cannot happen” Dame Louise Lake-Tack Dr. Murphy told OBSERVER media that it was not often that a site was “so Honourable Member rare that we’d recommend we may not want to build on it”. However, he added that many precious sites had been built on in the last Museum Staff three decades without regard to their historical significance. Michele Henry Curator “I don’t know of any laws that protect these sites in Antigua. So the status of these sites in Antigua. So the status of these sites is unclear. National Parks Debbie Joseph was given a mandate to look at some of these sites and monitor them, but Gift Shop Attendant they don’t have the resources to protect and save everything,” Dr. Murphy said. Myra Piper Library Researcher Data Base Clerk Lisa Francis Museum Assistant Library Researcher Mary Johnson Heritage Education Tour Guide Museum Assistant Mr. Esrom Philip Museum Maintenance Mrs. Suzanne Graham Deep Bay Cleaner HAS Newsletter No. 137 Page 3 April, May, June 2017 They patrolled the streets of St. John's, Historical Roots of Street dancing patrolled the Estates and heavily armed, By Selvyn Walter stood ready to repel any rebellion that Excerpt from a series of articles entitled “NOT A might have been scheduled to take place DRUM WAS HEARD” On the Paradox of a Lifetime during this season, when the slaves enjoyed of Service, Old Age, and Eventual Death. Part one of their rare bouts of freedom during Seventy Four (Published in the Daily Observer July the calendar year. th 13 , 1996) No Drums, No Horns! From the 1680's when the slaves used to "run I have been approached by several people who away" to the Sherkeley Mountains and up to the have wanted to know why the police usually late 1720's, the beating of drums or any thing looked the other way when the Christmas revelers that could be substituted for a drum, the blowing ostensibly broke many of the laws and did things of Conch-Shells, and horns or anything that for which they would normally have been could be used as a horn, was prohibited by law. arrested. I intend to attempt the reasons behind It was recognised that signals could be sent by the license that the police grant to people to drumming and by the blowing of horns. In fact, misbehave. Even today during the Carnival in the days preceding the confrontation of the Celebrations, the police are usually very tolerant 1736 Rebellion, the slaves had been using and tend to ignore behavior which they would not conch-shells to send signals for secret meetings. normally condone. They blew them in the area of the East Bus Station, in Ottos Pasture and in the used as a This attitude has historical roots and a Sunday Market. significance that goes back to the days of the Christmas Celebrations of hundreds of year ago. Temporary Relaxation of Rules At Christmas, however, the rules against At the height of the 1736 King Court Rebellion, drumming and the blowing of horns seem to there were 24,000 slaves and 3,000 whites in have been relaxed and the slaves brought their Antigua. The troops in Antigua numbered 155 and were composed of 5 companies. Each music and dancing and feting to St. John’s. company contained 31 men. The population Some did their dancing on the Estates. Thus ratio posed a serious problem to the Colonial the Christmas festivities were a period of authorities. How could the whole system survive "freedom and license". The slaves enjoyed if the whites were so heavily outnumbered? The their Bacchanal and the authorities did not answer, they argued lay in providing a series of interfere with them. safety valves that would allow the system to breathe easier, (in spite of the harshness of the laws that governed both the existence of the slaves and the relationship between Blacks and Whites). Military Alert The Blacks danced in the streets, they sang their songs, drank their liquor and behaved with an unheard of, reckless abandon. On the other hand, the whites in the military and the military and the citizens’ militia remained on “military (Continued on page 4) alert” during these three days of festivities. HAS Newsletter No. 137 Page 4 April, May, June 2017 Historical Roots of Street Dancing We also see them adorning the wrist of many West Indian women. In addition to being a (Continued from page 3) highly desired piece of fashion jewelry, it also serves as a symbol of social status. The more In this tradition, the Christmas Street dancing continued after the Abolition of Slavery and, gold pieces one has, it serves as an indication that she possesses wealth. The current until the Christmas festivities died and gave way to the Carnival Celebrations, there was this representation of this piece of jewelry is quite ironic given its powerful roots and history. accepted pattern of behaviour where the police turned a blind eye to many things that took Most West Indians refer to them as ‘bangles’ place in the tumultuous jam sessions that had been created in the streets. When the authorities however, historically they are known as manilas or okpoho/Okombo/abi. Once a form of currency felt threatened and did not want to hear any drums or horns, the slaves danced to the tune of for West African peoples, manillas would become one of the main currencies of choice other instruments and it was in adverse situations like these that the custom of singing during the slave trade to the Americas. Their usage during this time in history was of such in whole bands to the tunes that had been made, was born. prevalence that they were often referred to as “slave trade money.” While there are many theories surrounding the Untold History Behind Bangles orijin of manilas, it is known that it was worn by (Manillas): “Slave Trade Money” To women along West African coast as a symbol of the Must Have Accessory their husband’s wealth. The horseshoe shaped bracelet or ‘bangles’ are often decorated with Excerpt from Origin Culture balls on each end. In its inception, these bracelets/’bangles’ were predominantly made For many parents with newborn children in the Caribbean, it is an expected gift. Thus, shopping for from copper as it was the “red gold” of Africa. Noticing the importance of this piece of jewelry a toddler’s christening of first birthday is not a difficult task. to West African, Portuguese merchants began to produce these pieces as a means of currency. While one appreciates the gesture of the copper or Manillas are typically horse-shaped with flared silver, the gold is preferred. Each child wears it until ends. Africans from each region had names for his/her wrist outgrows it, however, it is expected that each variety of manila and were very particular the child will keep this important piece of jewelry about the types they would accept.

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