Archaeology and history of africans and afro-descendants in Cauca, Colombia

Abstract

This historical archaeology article analyzes evidence of the past and history of enslaved Africans and their descendants in Popayán and north of Cauca, during the 18th and 19th centuries. Using archival data, investigation of archaeological sites, material culture and orality, it explores the social relations between masters and slaves and provides an account of their settlements, areas of domestic work, agriculture, and mining in the countryside. The data gathered contributes to the analysis of everyday life, servitude, ancestry, resistance, and Afro-Colombian emancipation, topics scarcely investigated in Colombia, especially in the southwestern region. By offering an initial overview of these issues, this research strengthens Afro-diasporic studies through the history, memories, traditions, and heritages within Colombia's multi-ethnic society.