October 07, 2005

Thomas Jefferson and slave society to be discussed at UNM

“The World of Thomas Jefferson & Sally Hemings at Monticello: Archaeological Perspectives on a Slave Society,” is the topic of the 21st Journal of Anthropological Research Distinguished Lecture to be presented at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Fraser Neiman will give the talk Thursday, Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m. in the UNM Anthropology Lecture Hall (Rm. 163).

This lecture will explore what archaeology can tell us about the world of masters and slaves, that Jefferson, in one of the great ironies of American history, helped to create and maintain.

Neiman is director of archaeology at Monticello and a lecturer in the departments of Anthropology & Architectural History at the University of Virginia. He received his Ph.D. from Yale in 1990 and is best known for his evolutionary ecological approach to archeology.

Neiman is a specialist in the archeology of the slave-based society of Tidewater Virginia, and was instrumental in creating a digital archaeological archive of colonial slavery. Most notably, he has been involved in the recent research that led to the conclusion that Thomas Jefferson fathered all six of the children of Sally Hemings, one of his slaves.

Neiman will also present a specialized seminar on Friday, Nov. 4 at noon in Anthropology rm. 178. The topic will be “Commodities as costly signals: The case of tobacco pipes in 17th century Jamestown, Va.”

Both events are free and open to the public and are wheelchair accessible.

Contact: Greg Johnston, (505) 277-1816

Posted by scarr at October 7, 2005 04:03 PM