Discussions, Papers, Reports and Books
Amérindiens du Sinnamary (Guyane), Archéologie en forêt équatoriale: “Cet ouvrage livre les premiers résultats des recherches sur les occupations amérindiennes du bassin du Sinnamary (1660-220 BP), menées à l'occasion de la construction par Electricité de France du barrage de Petit Saut (Guyane française)…”/ “this work introduces the initial results of research at site occupied by Native Americans in the Sinnamary basin (1660-220 BP), carried out at the time of the construction of the Petit Saut dam by Electricité de France in French Guyana. A methodological approach pertaining to the tropical sylvan and riparian milieu is followed by a study of the open-air sites, and a commentary focusing on the phenomenon of terra preta and palaeolithic fires. For the first time, a typological framework and a vocabulary are proposed for reference to lithic series and polishing-tool sites. This work also includes a study of ceramics using two complementary approaches : determination of place of manufacture based on the chemical make-up of the pastes employed, and codification of the forms and motifs of the 22,000 objects registered. Following up on the publication devoted to the colonial period in this region (dAf 60), this volume makes a signifiant contribution to the renewal of historiographical work on the Guyana plateau”.
“Ancient Beadmakers of the Caribbean”, By David R. Watters: “…The exquisitely crafted beads, pendants and related objects from Trants attest to the skill of its Saladoid inhabitants in working stone and shell. Our research involves analyzing beads held in museum collections as well as conducting new excavations to document these artifacts in their stratigraphic context, from which we can interpret their antiquity and cultural implications…”
Background for the Teaching of Caribbean Prehistory, by Emily R. Lundberg, March 1997: this site presents an extensive series of notes on pre-colonial Caribbean Amerindians
The Cambridge History of the Native Peoples of the Americas Hardback Set: Includes Chapter 8. Archaeology of the Caribbean region, by Louis Allaire; Chapter 11. The crises and transformations of invaded societies: the Caribbean, 1492-1580, by Neil Whitehead; and, Chapter 20. Native peoples confront colonial regimes in northeastern South America, c. 1500-1900, by Neil Whitehead
Carib Indians: K. Kris Hurst, Archaeology “expert” at About.com, proposes that Caribs went completely extinct within a decade of the arrival of the Spanish colonizers.
A COURSE SYLLABUS: Ethnohistory and Archaeology of the Caribbean -- Anthropology 384M (26575) Prof. Samuel M. Wilson -- Fall 1998 EPS 2.140 (471-0057)
"Creating the Guanahatabey (Ciboney): the modern genesis of an extinct culture" by: William F. Keegan in: "Antiquity" (Volume 63, Number 239, June 1989) "It is common knowledge that the West Indies were inhabited by three cultures at the time of European contact--the Island Caribs, the Tainos and the Ciboney--identified largely from the accounts of Spanish and French explorers and chroniclers. Is this knowledge accurate?"
The Cultural Sequence on the Guyanese Coast, An Archaeological Reconstruction (Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology): from 11050 BC to 1210 AD.
Grenada's Ancient Caribs' Culture: sample images of petroglyphs and Carib's Leap, site of the famous mass suicide of Caribs escaping French persecution.
Grenada Archaeological Artifacts: “About The Artifacts: Excavated at the Pearls Site on the Island of Grenada. This collection consists of decorative pottery elements. The elements depict a variety of motifs, sculpted as mythological creatures, birds, bats, frogs, monkey etc. The pottery elements date from the First through the Fourth Centuries AD.”
Guyanese Amerindian Petroglyphs (Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology): a sample of displays of various categories of petroglyphs found in Guyana.
The
Indigenous People of the Caribbean, edited by Samuel L. Wilson, University
Press of Florida, 1999—this page provides an overview
of the contents of the volume, with information on individual contributions,
and a sample of positive reviews.
Indigenous Peoples in Caribbean Prehistory, Elementary School Level Lesson Plans: an in-depth outline of lessons and activities designed to teach the Indigenous pre-Conquest history of the Caribbean.
NY Boricua, Taino Page: a glossary of terms, an article on the Taino DNA survey, an article on pre-Columbian history (Archaic, Igneri/Saldoid, Ostionid and Taino culture, caciques) and selections of photos from the Tumba del Indo, la Piedra Tallada, Caguana Ceremonial Park, Taino history links, Websites, and related books.
“Polveri da fiuto fra i Taino delle Antille”, an Italian archaeological page on Taino flutes used for the inhalation of cohoba—extract in Italian: “Con lo scopo di comunicare con i zemís, i Taino inalavano una polvere pisocoattiva chiamata cohoba, ottenuta dai bacelli dell'albero Anadenanthera peregrina var. peregrina. Un caratteristico oggetto di culto taino è lo zemí, in legno, in cui sono generalmente intagliate figure antropomorfe, recanti alla sommità un ripiano piatto, sopra al quale erano collocate le polveri da fiuto al momento dell'inalazione….”
Pre-Columbian Hispaniola, Arawak/Taino Native Americans, by Bob Corbett: includes descriptions of the following-Lifestyle of the Arawak/Taino; Housing and Dress; Food and Agriculture; Transportation; Defense; Religion and Myth; The genocidal end of the Arawak/Taino; Specific Indian leaders at the time of Columbus (The five caciques of the time)
Pre-Columbian People of Anguilla, from the Anguilla Guide: “The rich and dynamic Amerindian history of the island is beginning to be reconstructed as a result of recent work by the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society and archaeologists from numerous institutions such as the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the University of Maine at Farmington, and the University of Pittsburgh….” (not the usual rehashing of exotic myths of cannibalism and, this site provides a useful synopsis of key archaeological and ethnohistoric data.)
Pre-Columbian Pottery in the Antilles: this issue of The Athena Review presents a brief overview of Saladoid, Barrancoid, and Ostionoid pottery traditions and periods.
"Rumor of Cannibals" by Dave D. Davis in "Archaeology" (January/February 1992, p. 49) - "…But, according to the Taino, these Caniba were warlike eaters of human flesh who periodically raided the peaceful folk of the larger islands."
Subject-- Archeology, The Amerindians, from Suriname.Nu: “It was not until 3000 BC before the first indians appeared on the coast of the Guyanas. Those indians who arrived between 3000-2000 BC are often called Meso-Indians. Those after 2000 BC are given the name of Neo-Indians. However it is difficult to establish an exact determination of which term to use. The more recent tribes are first the Arawak tribes as they arrived 3000 years ago. A second tribe were the Carai…”. From: Avonturen aan de Wilde Kust, Albert Helman, VACO, Paramaribo, 1982. ISBN 9991400087. This book has numerous photographs of Amerindian artifacts, bowl/pottery fragments
SUBSCRIBE TO STANDPIPE-L: The International Discussion Forum for Caribbean Archaeology and Ethnology Link courtesy of:Dan Mouer, Commonwealth University of Virginia
"Taíno: Ancient Voyagers of the Caribbean", by Dicey Taylor, Ph.D, Guest Curator, El Museo del Barrio: a paper outlining the archaeological history, pre-colonial culture, religious beliefs, cosmology, food, and social structure of the Tainos, ending with a consideration of the their cultural legacy-this relates to the exhibition, by the same name, hosted by El Museo del Barrio.
Taino Zemi Basket, c. 1492-1520: A talented Zemi artist (probably a woman) made this basket to represent a Zemi god. Note the incorporation of European mirrors into a traditional belief.
"Zemís, trees, and symbolic landscapes: three Taíno carvings from Jamaica" by: Nicholas J. Saunders & Dorrick Gray Three carved wooden images have come to light in Jamaica, the most important find of Taíno carvings for two centuries from that island. Their discovery prompts a reconsideration of Taíno zemís, and their placing into the known context of the Caribbean region, with its South American links.
This page was last updated: Friday, 13 April, 2007