Stephen Silliman
My archaeological and anthropological research has several components. At its core, I focus on understanding the structure, outcome, legacies, and prevalence of colonialism in the last 500 years with particular attention to the struggles and survivals of indigenous people. I center this work primarily on North America, specifically the West and East Coasts, where I have a long-term partnership with the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut to conduct archaeological research on their historic reservation. As part of this research interest, I am committed to integrating material culture, space, architecture, and written texts into a theoretical framework that emphasizes social theories of agency, practice, labor, identity, and communities. A central goal is to unpack and better evaluate longstanding concepts of material culture and identity, culture change and continuity, and colonialism and culture contact. My commitment also extends to doing archaeology and understanding heritage in ways that are deeply rooted in the contemporary world rather than focused merely on past ones. My research proceeds in a collaborative, community context with indigenous communities, not only to improve the empirical and interpretive quality of historical information, but also to situate archaeology in more respectful and engaged practices. In addition, I am interested in the production and dissemination of heritage, whether as objects, practices, or words, and their role in the narration of certain histories.
Address: Department of Anthropology
University of Massachusetts, Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd
Boston, MA 02125-3393
Address: Department of Anthropology
University of Massachusetts, Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd
Boston, MA 02125-3393
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Videos by Stephen Silliman
A short film highlighting Eastern Pequot voices about their heritage, culture, and the longstanding indigenous archaeology project done in collaboration with the Department of Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts Boston. As a state-recognized tribe, the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation has a 225-acre reservation in North Stonington, Connecticut, USA, that its community has occupied since 1683. The Eastern Pequot are cousins of the Mashantucket (Western) Pequot, and their respective reservation boundaries sit less than a mile apart. However, unlike the Mashantucket Pequot, who own Foxwoods Casino and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, the Eastern Pequot do not currently have federal recognition (as noted in the film) or its benefits such as economic development, community buildings, or a museum.
Books by Stephen Silliman
Papers by Stephen Silliman
A short film highlighting Eastern Pequot voices about their heritage, culture, and the longstanding indigenous archaeology project done in collaboration with the Department of Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts Boston. As a state-recognized tribe, the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation has a 225-acre reservation in North Stonington, Connecticut, USA, that its community has occupied since 1683. The Eastern Pequot are cousins of the Mashantucket (Western) Pequot, and their respective reservation boundaries sit less than a mile apart. However, unlike the Mashantucket Pequot, who own Foxwoods Casino and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, the Eastern Pequot do not currently have federal recognition (as noted in the film) or its benefits such as economic development, community buildings, or a museum.