Did You Know?
Excavations by IMPART partners at a variety of sites have revealed enigmatic bundles or clusters of objects, such as a grouping of white buttons, pins, crystals, and ceramics found by the University of Maryland in a corner of the Charles Carroll House (Annapolis). Frequently found under floors, beneath hearths, and in the corners of rooms, these are thought to be related to African beliefs that were retained under slavery. Known as Nkisi in west and central Africa, these diviner’s bundles were used to protect occupants from evil or to communicate with the dead and the supernatural world, continuing a long religious tradition. Archaeology has helped to show the ways in which enslaved Africans retained many rich and vibrant traditions, despite the efforts of those in authority to stamp them out.
