What Mathew is missing is "culture" (a word seemingly returning to
popularity despite some really good reasons why it should be junked).
American historical archaeology has a different mental template from that
practiced in the civilised world (ie the Empire). Hence the seeming
incomprehensible attempt to study attempt to study slaves through the use of
"behaviour" found in the archaeological record. How one does this without
using the historical record is a puzzle. I can only put it down to the use
of the marshaltown rather than the WHOSE trowel? However it does sound
disarmingly post-modern.

yours in sheer bloody ignorance
Iain  Stuart