The Archaeology of the Caribbean (Cambridge World Archaeology)

A comprehensive synthesis of Caribbean prehistory from the earliest settlement by humans more than 4000 years BC, to the time of European conquest of the islands. The Caribbean was the last large area in the Americas to be populated, and its relative isolation allowed unique cultures to develop. Samuel Wilson reviews the evidence for migration and cultural change throughout the archipelago, dealing in particular with periods of cultural interaction when groups with different cultures and histories were in contact. He also examines the evolving relationship of the Caribbean people with their environment, as they developed increasingly productive economic systems over time, as well as the emergence of increasingly complex social and political systems, particularly in the Greater Antilles in the centuries before the European conquest. Wilson also provides a review of the history of Caribbean archaeology and the individual scholars and ideas that have shaped the field. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Series-title 4 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 List of Figures and Table 11 Figures 11 Table 13 Acknowledgments 15 Chapter 1 Introduction 17 THEMES EXPLORED IN THIS SURVEY 20 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS 24 ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CARIBBEAN ARCHAEOLOGY 31 ON THE BEGINNINGS OF CARIBBEAN ARCHAEOLOGY 33 DISCUSSION OF CHRONOLOGY, TAXONOMY, AND TERMINOLOGY 35 ORGANIZATION OF THE VOLUME 39 Chapter 2 The First Human Colonization of the Caribbean 41 CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENTS BEFORE HUMAN COLONIZATION 41 ORIGINS OF THE FIRST MIGRANTS 43 THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS 49 NEW MIGRATIONS AROUND 2000 B.C 52 BANWARI TRACE, TRINIDAD 55 ORIGINS OF THE PEOPLE WHO COLONIZED THE LESSER ANTILLES 59 COLONIZING THE LESSER ANTILLES 61 SUMMARY 72 Chapter 3 The Saladoid Phenomenon 75 MAINLAND ORIGINS 76 SALADOID EXPLORATIONS INTO THE CARIBBEAN 83 THE FIRST SALADOID EXPLORERS 86 LA HUECA AND THE EARLY SALADOID 92 SALADOID PEOPLE AND THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS 97 SALADOID LIFE IN THE LESSER AND GREATER ANTILLES 101 The Economy of the Saladoid Migrants 101 SALADOID HOUSES AND VILLAGES 104 SALADOID SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION 108 Chapter 4 The Taino 111 THE COLONIZATION OF JAMAICA, THE BAHAMAS, AND CUBA 118 THE BAHAMAS 121 CUBA 124 GREATER ANTILLEAN CEREMONIALISM AND THE EMERGENCE OF TAINO POLITIES 126 CEREMONIAL CENTERS OF HISPANIOLA 139 EL ATAJADIZO 140 THE ZONE OF CHACUEY 142 CUBA 146 SUMMARY POINTS CONCERNING CEREMONIAL PLAZAS 149 Chapter 5 The Caribbean on the Eve of European Contact 153 CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE GREATER ANTILLES 155 CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY IN THE LESSER ANTILLES 162 TRAJECTORIES OF CHANGE ON THE EVE OF EUROPEAN CONTACT 166 SUMMARY 169 Chapter 6 The Caribbean after the Arrival of Europeans 171 SOCIOPOLITICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC CONSEQUENCES OF EUROPEAN CONTACT 174 CULTURE CONTACT IN THE LESSER ANTILLES 177 INDIGENOUS RESISTENCE IN THE CARIBBEAN 180 Chapter 7 Conclusions 186 THEMES AND DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH 191 Bibliography 197 Index 217 The Archaeology Of The Caribbean Is A Comprehensive Synthesis Of Caribbean Prehistory From The Earliest Settlement By Humans More Than 6,000 Years Ago To The Time Of European Conquest Of The Islands, From The Fifteenth Through Seventeenth Centuries. Samuel Wilson Reviews The Evidence For Migration And Cultural Change Throughout The Archipelago, Dealing In Particular With Periods Of Cultural Interaction When Groups With Different Cultures And Histories Were In Contact. He Also Examines The Evolving Relationship Of The Caribbean People With Their Environment, As They Developed Increasingly Productive Economic Systems Over Time, As Well As The Emergence Of Increasingly Complex Social And Political Systems, Particularly In The Greater Antilles In The Centuries Before The European Conquest. The Archaeology Of The Caribbean Also Provides A Review Of The History Of Caribbean Archaeology And The Individual Scholars And Ideas That Have Shaped The Field.--book Jacket. Introduction -- The First Human Colonization Of The Caribbean -- The Saladoid Phenomenon -- The Taíno -- The Caribbean On The Eve Of European Contact -- The Caribbean After The Arrival Of Europeans -- Conclusions. Samuel M. Wilson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 181-199) And Index. "The Archaeology of the Caribbean is a comprehensive synthesis of Caribbean prehistory from the earliest settlement by humans more than 4,000 years ago to the time of European conquest of the islands, from the fifteenth through seventeenth centuries. Samuel Wilson reviews the evidence for migration and cultural change throughout the archipelago, dealing in particular with periods of cultural interaction when groups with different cultures and histories were in contact. He also examines the evolving relationship of the Caribbean people with their environment, as they developed increasingly productive economic systems over time, as well as the emergence of increasingly complex social and political systems, particularly in the Greater Antilles in the centuries before the European conquest. The Archaeology of the Caribbean also provides a review of the history of Caribbean archaeology and the individual scholars and ideas that have shaped the field."--Jacket The Archaeology of the Caribbean is a comprehensive synthesis of Caribbean prehistory from the earliest settlement by humans more than 4000 years BC, to the time of European conquest of the islands, from the fifteenth through seventeenth centuries. Samuel Wilson reviews the evidence for migration and cultural change throughout the archipelago, dealing in particular with periods of cultural interaction when groups with different cultures and histories were in contact. The material covered is extensive for this small book. The authors command of the subject mater is refreshing, and well presented. A comprehensive synthesis of Caribbean prehistory from 4000 BC to AD 1700