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Long-Term Trends in Prehistoric Fishing and Hunting on Tobago, West Indies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

David W. Steadman  and
Sharyn Jones
David W. Steadman
Affiliation:
Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. (dws@flmnh.ufl.edu)
Sharyn Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35924.
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Abstract

We compare the bone assemblages of Milford 1 (TOB-3) and Golden Grove (TOB-13) in Tobago, West Indies. Milford 1 is a small preceramic occupation (ca. 3000-2800 cal B.P.), whereas Golden Grove is a large ceramic-period village (ca. 1700-900 cal B.P.). Species richness at TOB-13 is greater than at TOB-3, both in marine (67 vs. 39 fishes) and terrestrial (32 vs. 9) taxa. Major shifts in marine exploitation from the preceramic to ceramic periods can be seen in relative abundance of tuna, toadfishes, and in fishes inhabiting mangrove and brackish water environments, and decreases in relative abundance of parrotfish, carnivorous reef fishes, and sea turtles. The abundance of tuna bones at TOB-13 is uniquely high among West Indian archaeological sites. For terrestrial taxa, the difference in species richness exceeds the expected, including decreased specialization on big game (peccaries) at TOB-13, with a greater tendency to hunt reptiles, birds, and mammals of all sizes at TOB-3. Factors underlying the shifts in fishing and hunting may include different collection methods and food preferences of non-Arawakan (preceramic) vs. Arawakan (ceramic) peoples, as well as human-induced declines in populations of peccaries, sea turtles, and selected fish species. Another possible factor is site setting, with the inhabitants of TOB-13 having enhanced access to mangrove habitats.

Comparamos los conjuntos óseos de Milford 1 (TOB–3) y Golden Grove (TOB-13) en Tobago, Antillas Occidentales. TOB-3 es una pequeña ocupación precerámica (ca. 3000–2800 cal AP) mientras que TOB-13 es una gran villa del período cerámico (ca. 1700–900 cal AP). La riqueza de especies en TOB-13 es mayor que en TOB–3, ya sean marinas (67 vs. 39 peces) o terrestres (32 vs. 9). Los cambios en la explotación de recursos marinos del precerámico al cerámico se ven en la mayor abundancia relativa de atún, pez sapo, y de otros peces que habitan los mangles y ambientes de aguas salobres, y en la menor abundancia relativa de pez loro, peces carnívoros de arrecifes, y tortugas marinas. La abundancia de atún en TOB-13, con seis especies de mar adentro, es única en sitios arqueológicos de las Antillas Occidentales. Para los taxa terrestres, sorprende la diferencia en la riqueza de especies; los cambios incluyen una disminución en los animales de caza mayor (pecaríes) en TOB-13, con un aumento en la caza de reptiles, aves, y mamíferos de diferentes tamaños en TOB-3. Factores que inciden en los cambios pudieron ser la implementación de diferentes métodos de recolección-caza y en las preferencias alimenticias entre los grupos no-Arawak (precerámicos) versus los Arawak (cerámicos), así como por disminuciones inducidas por humanos en las poblaciones de pecaríes, tortugas marinas, y algunas especies de peces. Además los habitantes de TOB–13 pudieron haber tenido mejor acceso a los hábitats de los manglares.

Type
Reports
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , September 2006 , pp. 316 - 334
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 by the Society for American Archaeology.

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