Matthew C. Reilly

Matthew C. Reilly is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the City College of New York (CCNY), part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. He maintains primary affiliations with the Anthropology Department, Gender Studies, and International Studies, with additional connections to the Black Studies Department. His office is located in the North Academic Center (7/113 A).

Dr. Reilly's research centers on Historical Archaeology of the Caribbean, with particular expertise in Barbadian history, slavery studies, and the African diaspora. His work critically examines race, class, and labor dynamics in colonial contexts, challenging historical narratives about marginal groups like the Barbadian "Redlegs" (poor whites in a slave society). He investigates how material culture reflects social relations and power structures, with significant contributions to understanding Irish diaspora experiences in the Caribbean and the Back-to-Africa movement in Liberia.

His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on archaeologies of emancipation, burial practices, and settler colonialism. Dr. Reilly has pioneered interdisciplinary approaches connecting archaeological findings with contemporary social issues, particularly around race, heritage, and memory. His work on Liberian archaeology since 2019 represents the first systematic archaeological investigation of the Back-to-Africa movement.

Dr. Reilly co-leads the Back-to-Africa Heritage and Archaeology (BAHA) project, which has conducted multiple field seasons in Liberia examining sites like Providence Island and Crozierville. His research demonstrates how historical archaeology can illuminate complex social processes that official records often overlook, particularly regarding marginalized communities in plantation societies.