The Tutu Archaeological Village Site: A Multi-disciplinary Case Study In Human Adaptation (interpreting The Remains Of The Past)

Excavations at the Tutu site represent a dramatic chapter in the annals of Caribbean archaeological excavation. The site was discovered in 1990 during the initial site clearing for a shopping mall in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The site was excavated with the assistance of a team of professional archaeologists and volunteers. Utilizing resources and funds donated by the local scientific communities, the project employed a multidisciplinary sampling strategy designed to recover material for analysis by experts in fields such as anthropology, archaeology, palaeobotany, zooarchaeology, bioarchaeology, palaeopathology and photo imaging. This volume reports the results of these various applied analytical techniques laying a solid foundation for future comparative studies of prehistoric Caribbean human populations and cultures. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of figures......Page 10 List of tables......Page 16 List of contributors......Page 18 Introduction to the series......Page 21 Foreword......Page 22 Preface......Page 27 Acknowledgments......Page 31 INTRODUCTION......Page 36 BACKGROUND OF RESEARCH AND SAMPLE COLLECTION AT THE TUTU SITE......Page 44 ANALYSIS OF CHARRED BOTANICAL REMAINS FROM THE TUTU SITE......Page 144 PHYTOLITHIC REMAINS FROM THE TUTU SITE......Page 170 FAUNAL REMAINS FROM THE TUTU SITE......Page 176 TUTU POTTERY AND CERAMIC CHRONOLOGY......Page 201 INVESTIGATION OF CERAMIC VARIABILITY AT THE TUTU SITE THROUGH ACID-EXTRACTION ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS......Page 234 BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION IN THE PREHISTORIC CARIBBEAN: OSTEOLOGY AND BIOARCHAEOLOGY OF THE TUTU SITE......Page 244 THE TUTU TEETH:ASSESSING PREHISTORIC HEALTH AND LIFEWAY FROM ST THOMAS......Page 265 TRACE ELEMENT ANALYSES OF SKELETAL REMAINS AND ASSOCIATED SOILS FROM THE TUTU SITE......Page 285 BONE ISOTOPIC ANALYSIS AND PREHISTORIC DIET AT THE TUTU SITE......Page 298 FLAKED STONE ARTIFACTS FROM THE TUTU SITE......Page 309 POST HOLE PATTERNS:STRUCTURES, CHRONOLOGY AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AT THE TUTU SITE......Page 319 SITE ANALYSIS......Page 377 Bibliographic references......Page 390 Index......Page 410 Background Of Research And Sample Collection At The Tutu Site / Elizabeth Righter -- Analysis Of Charred Botanical Remains From The Tutu Site / Deborah M. Pearsall --- Phytolithic Remains From The Tutu Site / Dolores Piperno -- Faunal Remains From The Tutu Site / Elizabeth S. Wing, Susan D. Defrance And Laura Kozuch -- Tutu Pottery And Ceramic Chronology / Emily R. Lundberg -- Investigation Of Ceramic Variability At The Tutu Site Through Acid-extraction Elemental Analysis / Emily R. Lundberg, James H. Burton And Warren C. Lynn. Biological Adaptation In The Prehistoric Caribbean / Mary K. Sandford, Georgieann Bogdan And Grace E. Kissling -- The Tutu Teeth / Clark Spencer Larsen, Mark F. Teaford And Mary K. Sandford -- Trace Element Analyses Of Skeletal Remains And Associated Soils From The Tutu Stie / Julie F. Farnum And Mary K. Sandford -- Bone Isotopic Analysis And Prehistoric Diet At The Tutu Site / Lynette Norr -- Flaked Stone Artifacts From The Tutu Site / Dave Davis -- Post Hole Patterns : Structures, Chronology And Spatial Distribution At The Tutu Site / Elizabeth Righter -- Site Analysis / Elizabeth Righter. Edited By Elizabeth Righter. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [355]-374) And Index. Humanities Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 List of figures 10 List of tables 16 List of contributors 18 Introduction to the series 21 Foreword 22 Preface 27 Acknowledgments 31 INTRODUCTION 36 BACKGROUND OF RESEARCH AND SAMPLE COLLECTION AT THE TUTU SITE 44 ANALYSIS OF CHARRED BOTANICAL REMAINS FROM THE TUTU SITE 144 PHYTOLITHIC REMAINS FROM THE TUTU SITE 170 FAUNAL REMAINS FROM THE TUTU SITE 176 TUTU POTTERY AND CERAMIC CHRONOLOGY 201 INVESTIGATION OF CERAMIC VARIABILITY AT THE TUTU SITE THROUGH ACID-EXTRACTION ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS 234 BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION IN THE PREHISTORIC CARIBBEAN: OSTEOLOGY AND BIOARCHAEOLOGY OF THE TUTU SITE 244 THE TUTU TEETH:ASSESSING PREHISTORIC HEALTH AND LIFEWAY FROM ST THOMAS 265 TRACE ELEMENT ANALYSES OF SKELETAL REMAINS AND ASSOCIATED SOILS FROM THE TUTU SITE 285 BONE ISOTOPIC ANALYSIS AND PREHISTORIC DIET AT THE TUTU SITE 298 FLAKED STONE ARTIFACTS FROM THE TUTU SITE 309 POST HOLE PATTERNS:STRUCTURES, CHRONOLOGY AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AT THE TUTU SITE 319 SITE ANALYSIS 377 Bibliographic references 390 Index 410 This volume reports the results of techniques for understanding of human adaptive strategies during 1.300 years of site occupation. These investigations lay a solid foundation for future studies of prehistoric Caribbean human populations. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Tutu Archaeological Village site was initially occupied shortly after the beginning of the Christian era and abandoned sometime around the time of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World.