The Literary Archaeology Project
In 2016, I was one of seven writers of Caribbean heritage, commissioned by the Arts Faculty at the University of Bristol, to write a piece that explored what it might have been like to be enslaved. We were brought together at the University with two archaeological scientists, who shared data recovered from the bones of a slave burial site in Barbados. Small shards of bone were passed around the group, bone that belonged to people who had been through the unthinkable. The scientists were able to ascertain specific information from their analysis of these bones; whether an individual was born into slavery or born free in Africa and then taken into slavery. They could also estimate the age that an individual was taken. They could give us information about the kind of work an individual did by the wear and tear of joints. They talked about diet, age of death, possible cause of death, even habits, such as one individual whose teeth suggested that they smoked a pipe.
But for all the fascinating information that the scientists presented to us, it gave away very little about the actual experience of the people we were talking about. It was up to us, the writers, to attempt to fill this gap. To say that this was an emotional undertaking is a massive understatement to say the least. Over the weeks of writing, I had to spend time in grief for these people whose bones we held, and my for own ancestors. This was a grief I hadn't let myself near before because of its overwhelming nature. I don't know if I would have been able to take on such a subject if it wasn't for the boundaries that the project set, and knowing that I wasn't facing this alone.
We each chose an individual to base our writing around. I chose 'N56'.
This is some of the information I was given about them.
- probable female.
- age 20-30 years of age.
- 5 foot 3 inches.
- severe dental caries and wear.
- robust individual, very strong muscle markings.
- osteoarthritis is prominent on the distal hand phalanges.
- migrant mostly likely from Benin City, Nigeria, but can't discount other areas.
- died at least 10 years after arrival in Barbados.
It's the kind of information that tells you something and nothing at the same time.
Nevertheless, I did our utmost, and managed to write a series of short monologues about this unknown young woman.
The finished pieces were performed at the Georgian House in Bristol in 2016. They are published on the Bristol University website.
Below is a short film about the project.
But for all the fascinating information that the scientists presented to us, it gave away very little about the actual experience of the people we were talking about. It was up to us, the writers, to attempt to fill this gap. To say that this was an emotional undertaking is a massive understatement to say the least. Over the weeks of writing, I had to spend time in grief for these people whose bones we held, and my for own ancestors. This was a grief I hadn't let myself near before because of its overwhelming nature. I don't know if I would have been able to take on such a subject if it wasn't for the boundaries that the project set, and knowing that I wasn't facing this alone.
We each chose an individual to base our writing around. I chose 'N56'.
This is some of the information I was given about them.
- probable female.
- age 20-30 years of age.
- 5 foot 3 inches.
- severe dental caries and wear.
- robust individual, very strong muscle markings.
- osteoarthritis is prominent on the distal hand phalanges.
- migrant mostly likely from Benin City, Nigeria, but can't discount other areas.
- died at least 10 years after arrival in Barbados.
It's the kind of information that tells you something and nothing at the same time.
Nevertheless, I did our utmost, and managed to write a series of short monologues about this unknown young woman.
The finished pieces were performed at the Georgian House in Bristol in 2016. They are published on the Bristol University website.
Below is a short film about the project.