Archaeological History, Memory, and Heritage at the White Marl Site, Central Village, St Catherine Parish, Jamaica

White Marl is the largest, most complexly organized pre-colonial site documented for Jamaica and it is increasingly at risk due to plans for highway improvements. The site is of fundamental importance to overlapping sets of stakeholders: local residents, descendant communities, professional and avocational archaeologists, and heritage managers. We consider concepts of memory and heritage, linking decades of archaeological research at White Marl to current conceptions of the place by descendants of the first Taino settlers and by residents of Central Village, the modern community surrounding the site. We review White Marl's archaeological history and situate the site in its current social, cultural, political, and economic context of Central Village. White Marl has been the focus of varied archaeological interpretations since the nineteenth century. In addition to the archaeological community, this heritage resource is important to local community members and descendants of the original Indigenous occupants. The Taino Museum adjacent to the site, established by the Institute of Jamaica in 1965, now serves as a church and school for local residents. Continuities are explored between the Indigenous pre-colonial occupants of White Marl, current occupants of Central Village, and the Indigenous descendant community.

Automated summary

White Marl, the largest and most complex pre-colonial site in Jamaica, is at increasing risk due to highway improvements. This site is of great importance to various stakeholders, including local residents, descendant communities, archaeologists, and heritage managers. The article explores the historical and cultural context of White Marl, as well as the current perceptions of the site by the community. It emphasizes the significance of the site not only to the archaeological community, but also to the local community and Indigenous descendants.