An Archaeology of Social Space: Analyzing Coffee Plantations in Jamaica's Blue Mountains (Contributions To Global Historical Archaeology) [Hardcover]

James A. Delle (Author), Mark P. Leone (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0306458500 | ISBN-13: 978-0306458507 | Publication Date: April 30, 1998 | Edition: 1

This unique volume examines the cognitive and material records of the spatial design and use - including maps, architectural drawings, landscapes, and historical treatises - of three coffee plantations in the Yallahs drainage of eastern Jamaica. Monographs concentrating on the historical archaeology of the Caribbean are rare, and this is the first to have space as its general area of study and coffee plantations as its specific focus. The volume is also significant in its cogent linkage of theory and data, and its treatment of social cognitive and material spaces as manifestations of a single set of phenomena.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`Valuable...This theoretically sophisticated work belongs in serious anthropology, geography, plantation, and Caribbean studies collections. Upper-division undergraduates and above.' Choice (November 1998) `This volume, a reworking of Delle's doctoral dissertation, is published in the Contribution to Global Archaeology Series. In Chapter 1, Delle lays out a Marxist approach. Following James Deetz, he defines historical archaeology as the archaeology of capitalism, of the study of European colonialism. Delle reviews previous spatial analyses of colonialism, including contributions to community studies and garden, landscape, and plantation archaeology. He places his work within the latter category: a study of the negotiation of landscapes and spaces on Jamaican coffee plantations from 1790, when coffee was first produced in the Blue Mountains, until 1865, by which time coffee production in this region had ceased. Not coincidentally, during this period the British slave trade was banned and slavery abolished.' Journal of Anthropological Research `Overall, Delle's work is a well-written and interestingly conceived study in an area and industry that has received little attention. The book is beautifully illustrated with photographs, line drawings, historical lithographs, and historic maps.' Historical Archaeology, 34:2

Product Details

• Hardcover: 268 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (April 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306458500
• ISBN-13: 978-0306458507
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,161,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #99 in Books > History > Americas > Caribbean & West Indies > Jamaica

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BOOK PROVIDES ENGAGING LOOK AT JAMAICA'S PAST, September 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: An Archaeology of Social Space: Analyzing Coffee Plantations in Jamaica's Blue Mountains (Contributions To Global Historical Archaeology) (Hardcover)

James Delle's book successfully explores the historical relationship between the Jamaican power structure and the physical characteristics of several coffee plantations. The book also goes beyond Jamaica, and demonstrates how the global economy is physically represented in the slave populated plantations. Delle provides a generous amount of historical background by tracing the rise and fall of the coffee industry in the 1800's. The text also includes sharp economic and social analysis. Overall, the book is packed with information that is both fascinating and comprehensive.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't Judge a Book by Its Title, April 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: An Archaeology of Social Space: Analyzing Coffee Plantations in Jamaica's Blue Mountains (Contributions To Global Historical Archaeology) (Hardcover)

This book talks little about archaeology and when it does, the interpretation is poor at best. The author is very repetitive with the few sources he has. Despite the lack of a credible discussion of social space, the book is well written and easily read.

3.0 out of 5 stars Text provides a useful framework for studying capitalism, April 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: An Archaeology of Social Space: Analyzing Coffee Plantations in Jamaica's Blue Mountains (Contributions To Global Historical Archaeology) (Hardcover)

The book provides a good theoretical discussion of spatiality within the context of world systems theory. However, insufficient attention was paid to the dynamics of what was purported by Delle to be the major area of study - the Yallahs Coffee Plantations of Jamaica.