Oliver Antczak
College Position
College Teaching Associate in Archaeology
Other Positions

Bye-Fellow

Research Interests

My research interests centre on the intersections between heritage and identity in the Southern Caribbean and Northern South America. I am especially interested in how present processes of heritage and identity formation, particularly Indigenous identities, are distinct and affected by different colonial histories. For my PhD (University of Cambridge, 2024) I explored these questions by looking at Indigenous identity and heritage on the islands of Bonaire, Margarita and Trinidad. While I conduct research on themes of heritage, I am trained in archaeological theory and methods and have experience across many archaeological fieldwork seasons in the Caribbean on pre-colonial and colonial sites. I am also interested in ethical research methods and participatory action research in archaeology and heritage studies.  

Awards & Prizes

2020 – Highly Commended – Inclusive Practice – OSCEA Cambridge Centre for Teaching and Learning

Select Publications

Antczak, O. (2024) ‘Indigenous Identity, Gender and Colonialism in Bonaire’ in The Dutch Caribbean Gender Studies Handbook. Edited by R. M. Allen & S. Bala. Leiden: Brill Publishers.  

Viejo Rose, D., A. Santikarn, O. Antczak, M. P.L. Pereira & I. Voulgareli. (2023-2024). Special Collection: ‘Heritage and Uncertainty.’ Global Perspectives. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Antczak, A. T., M. M. Antczak, & O. Antczak. (2024) ‘“Indios buenos, Indios malos” Historical Archaeology of Early Colonial Indigenous Identity Processes in the Southeastern Caribbean’ in Venezuelan Historical Archaeology. Current Perspectives on Contact, Colonialism, and Independence. Edited by Konrad A. Antczak, pp. 135-174. Leiden: Sidestone Press. DOI: 10.59641/r5588ud

Rodríguez Velásquez, F. & Antczak, O. (2023) ‘Nueva Cadiz de Cubagua and the Pearl Fisheries of the Caribbean’ in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Latin American History. Edited by S. Webre. New York: Oxford University Press.

Santikarn, A., E. Doğan, O. Antczak, K. E. Ruf & M. P. L. Pereira (2022) ‘Rethinking the Archaeology-Heritage Divide’ in Rethinking the Archaeology-Heritage Divide. Edited by Santikarn, A., E. Doğan, O. Antczak, K. E. Ruf & M. P. L. Pereira, pp. 1-13. Archaeological Review from Cambridge 37.1. Cambridge: Victoire Press Ltd. ISSN: 0261-4332.

Antczak, O. (2018) Unpicking a Feeling: Interrogating the Role of Heritage in Indigenous Collective Identity Formation on the Caribbean Island of Bonaire (Masters Thesis). University of Cambridge: Apollo. DOI: 10.17863/CAM.31764.