2013- Human-Plant Dynamics in the Precolonial Antilles: A Synthetic Update (original) (raw)
Related papers
Ethnoecology in Pre-Hispanic Central America: Foodways and Human-Plant Interfaces
Ancient Mesoamerica, 2019
In recent years, researchers in pre-Hispanic Central America have used new approaches that greatly amplify and enhance evidence of plants and their uses. This paper presents a case study from Puerto Escondido, located in the lower Ulúa River valley of Caribbean coastal Honduras. We demonstrate the effectiveness of using multiple methods in concert to interpret ethnobotanical practice in the past. By examining chipped-stone tools, ceramics, sediments from artifact contexts, and macrobotanical remains, we advance complementary inquiries. Here, we address botanical practices “in the home,” such as foodways, medicinal practices, fiber crafting, and ritual activities, and those “close to home,” such as agricultural and horticultural practices, forest management, and other engagements with local and distant ecologies. This presents an opportunity to begin to develop an understanding of ethnoecology at Puerto Escondido, here defined as the dynamic relationship between affordances provided in a botanical landscape and the impacts of human activities on that botanical landscape.
2019- On the way to the islands. The role of domestic plants in the initial peopling of the Antilles
Early Settlers of the Insular Caribbean. Dearchaizing the Archaic. Edited by C. Hofman and A. Antczak. Sidestone Press, Leiden., 2019
In this chapter, in contrast to previous works on this topic, we expect to provide additional answers to the question of why humans initiated the peopling of the Antilles based on the zooarchaeological and paleoetnobotanical information available from five very early archaeological sites (ca. 8000 to 4000 cal. yrs. BP) of the region. In particular, we would like to test if domestic plants were a potential triggering factor that influenced decisions surrounding the earliest processes of mobilization into the Caribbean islands, taking into consideration that most, if not all, of the earliest sites in the Antilles where paleoethnobotanical research has been conducted have registered the factual use of domestic plants. This, together with the important role that maritime navigation played in human and plant dispersals during this early period, will provide the basis to explore the feasibility of diet breadth (DB) and ideal free distribution (IFD) models for understanding these early human dispersals toward the islands. Together with other theoretical constructs derived from experiential philosophy and phenomenology, we will argue that the use of domestic plants by the earliest settlers of the Antilles was a primum mobile of the initial peopling of the region. Read the whole book online for free at: https://www.sidestone.com/books/early-settlers-of-the-insular-caribbean
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology , 2020
Caribbean Amerindian societies had sophisticated regional socio-political and economic systems linked to important crops by the late 15th century when Spanish conquerors initiated the invasion of the Americas. These systems soon helped change the dynamics of the world's foodways, and scarce but mounting archeological and ethnohistoric evidence suggests that the Spaniards and later European intruders gained symbolic and factual control of primary subsistence scenarios in the region by exploiting the Amerindians' plant foodways systems, lands and political institutions. The aim of this study is to better understand the emergence and evolution of human–plant interrelationships before 1492, and the role which this played in the consolidation of foodways systems that later benefitted early European survival and domination in the Americas. To achieve this, we applied the first onsite multiproxy approach in the insular Caribbean based on phytoliths and other auxiliary data to stratigraphically arranged soil layers from several household mounds of two precolonial settlements in northern Dominican Republic (Hispaniola). Results indicate that these settlements were established in ecotonal lower montane moist/mesic forests with differential biodiversity, and varied socio-environmental choices and constraints encouraged the configuration of divergent plantscapes of dwelling there. The applied analytical perspective demonstrates the necessity of expanding, deepening and refining the used approach to illuminate the human and environmental dynamics which helped shape the ancient plantscapes in the Caribbean at the eve of the European irruption of the Americas. Keywords Caribbean, Amerindian, Hispaniola, Plantscapes, Phytoliths, Household mound
Actes du 24e congrès de l'AIAC. International Association of Caribbean Archaeology, Martinique (B. Berard, ed.), 2013
Through the identification of starch grains, this study constructs direct associations between artifacts and human actions in the realms of plant procurement, processing, and use at two late-period habitation sites located on the former roosevelt roads Naval Facility in eastern Puerto rico. results highlight the use of plants in two different contexts -domestic (cooking) and medicinal (e.g., plants used for healing, as stimulants, and/or part of ritual or religious activities). Tentative identification of the hallucinogen cohoba (anadenanthera peregrina) within the context of a small habitation site offers new insights into how this plant functioned in antillean societies. an additional nine plants were identified from both wild and domesticated species that include various tubers (including manioc), beans, maize, and the red colorant annatto (Bixa orellana). This glimpse of the botanical cultures of two small occupations expands our understanding of how plants were obtained, processed, and cooked in this region in pre-Columbian times. Resumen a través de la identificación de granos de almidón, el presente estudio desarrolla asociaciones directas entre artefactos y acciones humanas en el contexto del procuramiento, procesamiento y uso de plantas en dos sitios habitacionales tardíos localizados en lo que fue la Base Naval roosevelt roads en el oriente de Puerto rico. Los resultados enfatizan el uso de plantas en dos escenarios diferentesuno doméstico (cocina) y otro medicinal (e.g., uso de plantas para sanar, como estimulantes, o como parte de rituales o actividades religiosas). La identificación tentativa del alucinógeno conocido como cohoba (anadenanthera peregrina) en el contexto de un pequeño sitio de habitación ofrece nuevas perspectivas acerca de la función de esta planta en las sociedades antillanas. adicionalmente, fueron identificadas otras nueve plantas, tanto silvestres como domésticas, entre las cuales se documentaron varios tubérculos (incluyendo la yuca o mandioca), frijol, maíz y el achiote (Bixa orellana). este atisbo a la cultura botánica de dos pequeñas ocupaciones humanas amplía nuestro entendimiento de cómo las plantas fueron obtenidas, procesadas y cocinadas en esta región en tiempos precolombinos. Palabras claves : almidones, plantas alimenticias, plantas alucinógenas, cohoba, Ostionoide, Puerto rico Résumé Par l'identification des grains d'amidon, cette étude construit des associations directes entre les artefacts et les actions humaines dans les domaines de l'acquisition des plantes, le traitement, et l'utilisation à deux emplacements d'habitation de tard-période situés sur le roosevelt roads Naval Facility dans l'est du Porto rico. Les résultats accentuent l'utilisation des plantes dans deux contextes différents -domestiques (faisant cuire) et médicinaux (par exemple, des plantes utilisées pour guérir, comme stimulants, et/ou partie d'activités rituelles ou religieuses). L'identification tentative de l'cohoba hallucinogène (anadenanthera peregrina) dans le contexte d'un petit emplacement d'habitation offre de nouvelles perspicacités dans la façon dont cette plante a fonctionné dans les sociétés antillean. des neuf plantes additionnelles ont été identifiées des espèces sauvages et domestiquées qui incluent de divers tubercules (manioc y compris), haricots, maïs, et l'annatto rouge de colorant (Bixa orellana). Cet aperçu des cultures botaniques de deux petites occupations augmente notre compréhension de la façon dont des plantes ont été obtenues, traitées, et faites cuire dans cette région dans des périodes précolombiennes.
This work examines the available archaeobotanical information of the circum-Caribbean with the aim of re-evaluating the botanical cultures of the region. My intention is to demonstrate that the period of the earliest population movements to the islands (ca. 5600 BC) was mediated by complex interregional processes in which crop plants were important items within exchange networks of goods and ideas. The article demonstrates that crop plant dispersions along with other cultural practices intrinsically linked with them were a reality since the dawn of human arrival to the islands. Details on the magnitude of these processes are unknown and further research will deal with these issues. This work is intended to be a basic framework for the largest archaeological starch grain study which – to date - has been formulated in the hemisphere. Este trabajo explora información arqueobotánica del circum-caribe con el objetivo de revalorar el ámbito de las culturas botánicas de la región. Mi interés es demostrar que el periodo de los primeros movimientos humanos hacia las islas (ca. 5600 BC) estuvo mediado por complejos procesos interregionales y las plantas económicas formaron parte esencial de las redes de intercambio de bienes e ideas. Enfatizamos que la dispersión de plantas y otras prácticas intrínsecamente relacionadas con ellas fueron una realidad desde los albores del poblamiento humano de las islas. Desconocemos la magnitud de todos los procesos señalados y deseamos detallarla en futuros trabajos. Este escrito es un marco de referencia básico para el más abarcador estudio de almidones arqueológicos que se haya formulado - hasta ahora - en el hemisferio. Ce travail examine les données archéobotaniques actuellement disponibles pour la région circum-Caraïbe en vue de procéder à une réévaluation des cultures botaniques de la région. Mon intention est de démontrer que les premiers mouvements démographiques insulaires (ca. 5600 BC) se sont produits par le biais de processus interrégionaux complexes dans lesquels les plantes alimentaires représentaient des articles importants dans les réseaux d’échange de biens et d’idées. L’article démontre que la dispersion de plantes alimentaires, tout comme d’autres pratiques culturelles intrinsèquement liées à ces dernières, ont été une réalité dès l’arrivée de l’homme dans le monde insulaire. Les détails sur l’ampleur de ces processus sont toujours inconnus à ce jour et de nouvelles recherches se chargeront de traiter ces questions. Ce travail vise à être un cadre de référence de base pour l’étude archéologique la plus élargie de graines d’amidons formulée jusqu’à ce jour dans l’hémisphère. Keywords: Starch analysis, ancient, Circum-Caribbean, Neotropics, Antilles, Panama, Colombia, Isthmus-Colombian, Venezuela, French Guiana.
Elucidating Ancient Mesoamerican Human-Plant Interactions
New Approach to Cultural Heritage: Profiling Discourse Across Borders, 2020
Cycads (Cycadales) are an ancient order of gymnosperms, one family of which is endemic to Mexico. Historically, although never domesticated, in ancient Mesoamerica and modern Mexico they have played a significant role in regional agroecology, as well as indigenous foodways, cultural practices, and beliefs. As a botanical resource that occurs in tropical and subtropical regions, cycads in Mesoamerica are used in a variety of ways and figure prominently in regional cultural traditions, in which they often possess 林智广告 4 校 开本：32 开 净尺寸：147mm×210mm 字体：Times New Roman 9 磅 行距：16.9 磅 版心：169mm*117mm(28 行 *36 字) 49 49 Agroecological Heritage a close relationship with maize. This contribution speaks to this underappreciated, now often critically endangered plant. A critical heritage perspective that considers the rhizomatic networks and indigenous epistemologies within which these plants are imbricated allows for the fuller consideration of a series of key issues that span multiple disciplines, including archaeology, ethnography, human geography, and art history. Preliminary results of an ongoing interdisciplinary research project are shared with the aim to stimulate further discussion on the significance of cycads in Mesoamerican beliefs, foodways, and ecology. We suggest that a closer examination of cycad-human relationships has the potential to motivate conservation of these endangered plants in ways that engage in local communities and work to highlight the environmental and cultural role of cycads, as well as the significance of ancient and modern cultural practices that incorporate this natural-cultural hybrid.
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 2020
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Paradigms and Syntagms of Ethnobotanical Practice in Ancient Northwestern Honduras
The relationships between people and plants are complex and highly varied, especially in the mosaic of ecologies represented across Southeastern Mesoamerica. In studying plant use in the past, available technologies and methodologies have expanded and improved, allowing archaeologists to pursue more nuanced approaches to human-plant interactions and complicating previous models based on modern ethnographic accounts and indirect archaeological evidence. In this thesis, I explore various aspects of foodways and ethnobotanical practice in Formative and Classic Northwestern Honduras. My primary data are the actual paleoethnobotanical remains recovered from artifacts and sediments at four sites: Currusté, Cerro Palenque, Puerto Escondido, and Los Naranjos. These remains include microbotanical evidence in the form of starch grains and phytoliths, and macrobotanical evidence including charred seeds and wood.