Archaeology: Excavations at Neveh Shalom
Spanish Town, Jamaica January 25, 1998
The first ever comprehensive archaeological excavations commenced in Spanish Town, Jamaica on the site of the 17th century Jewish synagogue, Neveh Shalom. - Dwelling Place of Peace, on January 5th. The "dig" arranged under the auspices of the Institute was carried out under the direction of the University of the West Indies Department of History with particpants coming from the student body and members of the Archaeological Society of Jamaica. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust granted the licence and is responsible for the conservation and storage of the "finds"
What makes the site interesting, apart from it being the earliest known Jewish New World site on which archaeological excavations have commenced, is that it is also probably the oldest identifiable ruin in Spanish Town that can be excavated. The oldest here means both the age of the ruins and the fact that nothing else has been placed on the site since the synagogue was built "in the style of the recently completed Bevis Marks synagogue in London". (1) We hope to open excavations that will look for earlier cultural material remains from the Spanish colonial period c 1534 onwards or the even earlier Taino period as we are close to the banks of the Rio Cobre river and near to known Taino settlements at White Marl.
This phase of the excavations lasted for two weeks. It started with clearing, mapping, planning and commenced digging in four sections. The work was primarily concerned in locating the foundations of the synagogue. This was done and the preliminary report indicates that the measurements correspond exactly to those recorded in Andrade's "A record of the Jews in Jamaica". A report of this dig should be available by April. The dig closed with an open day to which locals and members of the Historical Society of Jamaica, the Jewish community (United Congregation of Israelites) and the Archaeological Society of Jamaica were invited and some 50 persons attended.
Other records of the site and activities on the site will be available soon. These are the architectural reveiw by the Caribbean Volunteer Expidition who first mapped the site in December. The other is the Neveh Shalom Institute documentary which is a video record of the "dig" from the start until the first phase closed with its open day.
We are now planning the summer "dig" to last for 10 to 12 weeks commencing in June. We are seeking to find an archaeologist who will lead the continuing program started by the UWI and the ASJ. The dig will be also open to 25 "volunteers" at any one time for whom we will arrange accomadation, meals, transportation, recreation,"the works" for one to two weeks at a time per person. The cost of this per person will be announced shortly.
The Institute commenced simultaneously on the removal of garbage and bush from the adjacent cemetery site. This work continues. The tombstones that all were placed on the northern boundary wall have now been exposed and can be read . Work will shortly commence to mend the broken ones, to clean them all and place on the wall those that have fallen off over the last 50 years. There are 86 graves with tombstones recorded in this cemetery, The work is being programmed to be completed by the end of April. Our intial funding has come from a grant from the Eustace Myers Estate.
Tombstones in this cemetery are listed in a recently published book The Jews of Jamaica, Tombstone Inscriptions 1663 - 1880.
Inerestingly the local government has commenced a clean up and repair of the adjacent infirmary whose beautiful turn of the century buildings once housed the British Army at the time of World War I it is believed. Formerly the whole of that site was once known as Mulberry Park and one such plant is still to be found in the area. With that clean up going on as well the area is taking on a new lease on life.
Please feel free to contact me for more information, offer suggestions or exchange ideas at the above address. Please pass on our news too, we think it is very exciting and are happy to share it. Contributions to the Institute will also be welcomed. Payment can be made directly or to our temporary account # 332523864 - SAMAR at National Commercial Bank Ja. Ltd., Constant Spring, Kingston, Jamaica.