Humans have always been moving to and from the mainland South America but also between the islands of the Caribbean region. The movement of populations and individuals in the region, has led to the exchange of raw materials, artifacts, languages, and even plants and animals.
Animal mobility is connected with human movement in the Caribbean region. Especially, during the early times of colonization by Indigenous people, movement can be traced from and to the mainland and between islands as well. Animal mobility may include the moving of living animals, of dead animal bodies but also, of animal parts, used as artefacts. Animal bones and teeth have been used by locals to create bodily ornaments, which were considered highly valuable. The science of isotope analysis has been employed on various occasions, in order to trace the origin of those remains and understand mobility patterns.
A great number of animal remains have been identified during excavations in the circum-Caribbean. Animal remains have been found in independent animal burials, together with human burials – a possible grave offering – or in domestic deposits, as refuse.
A great variety of species has also been transported from mainland South America to the Caribbean region by humans. The Caribbean island environments were permanently altered by the migration of the first settlers. Studying past animal exploitation and animal trade could shed some light onto the dynamics of biodiversity in the region.
Map of the Caribbean showing human mobility and the exchange of goods and ideas from 8000 years before present to 1492 (map by Menno Hoogland).
Text by Eleni Seferidou, based on original published research (see further reading).
Laffoon, J. E., M.L.P. Hoogland, Davies, G.R. and C. L. Hofman, 2019. A Multi-Isotope Investigation of Human and Dog Mobility and Diet in the Pre-Colonial Antilles. Environmental Archaeology, 24(2), 132-148.
Laffoon J.E., R. R. Ramos, Baik, L.C., Y. N. Storde, Lopez, M.R., G.R. Davies, Hofman C.L., 2014. Long-distance exchange in the precolonial Circum-Caribbean: A multi-isotope study of animal tooth pendants from Puerto Rico. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 35(1), 220–233.
Laffoon, J. E., T.F. Sonnemann, Antczak, M.M. A. Antczak, 2018. Sourcing nonnative mammal remains from Dos Mosquises Island, Venezuela: new multiple isotope evidence. Archaeological and anthropological sciences, 10(6), 1265–1281.