️ Help Me Bring Jamaica’s Stories to Life Through Archaeology and Community ️

Hi friends, family, and kind supporters,

My name is Deena N. Byfield (Dee), and I’m a second-year graduate student at Georgia State University, pursuing a Master’s in Anthropology with a concentration in Museum Studies.

This year, I’ve been given the incredible opportunity to travel to Jamaica from October 3rd – 13th to conduct the fieldwork for my master’s thesis:

"Public Archaeology in the Caribbean: An Ethnographic Study of Perceptions of Archaeology and Heritage in Jamaica."

This research explores how Jamaicans interact with archaeology, heritage, and public history—how the material remnants of the past shape identity, memory, and cultural pride today. I’ll be visiting Montego Bay, Falmouth, Spanish Town, and Kingston to interview heritage professionals, visit key archaeological and museum sites, and connect with local communities.

But this journey is about more than just academics—it’s deeply personal.

As the granddaughter of a proud Jamaican man, I grew up hearing stories that were never written down—stories passed from generation to generation. I remember walking with my grandfather through the land he grew up on, listening to him say things like, “That’s where we used to gather for prayer,” or “My mother used to carry water from over there.” None of it was in a book. And over time, many of those stories—and the people who held them—faded away.

That memory drives my passion for this work.

I want to understand how everyday Jamaicans connect with their past—and how archaeology and public history can be more inclusive, community-centered, and empowering.

My goal is to challenge the idea that heritage only belongs behind glass or in textbooks and instead amplify local voices and build lasting connections between communities and their cultural memory.

Earlier this year, I was honored to win first place in the Social Innovation and Empowered Communities category at GSU’s Graduate Conference. That recognition affirmed that this work matters—and that it has the power to uplift and inspire change.

I was also awarded a scholarship from Dr. Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban, a longtime supporter of students doing critical cultural work. I am deeply grateful for her generosity—it has helped cover a portion of the trip.

But I still need help to close the funding gap.

Your contribution will go toward lodging, local transportation, meals, equipment, and other research-related expenses—the essential costs that will allow me to carry out this work with care, respect, and dedication.

How You Can Help:

If you believe in the power of community-based research…

If you believe that heritage belongs to the people…

If you believe that young Black scholars deserve the chance to make a lasting impact…

Please consider contributing. Whether it’s $5, $50, or simply sharing this post, your support means the world to me.

You won’t just be funding a trip—you’ll be helping preserve the stories, lives, and legacies of communities whose voices deserve to be heard and honored.

Thank you for believing in this dream. Thank you for believing in me.

With love and gratitude,

Dee