Prehistoric Population Mobility in the Caribbean: Genetic and Isotopic Investigations at Grand Bay, Carriacou, West Indies

Summary

Archaeological research at Grand Bay, a large Late Ceramic Age (ca. AD 400-1300) Amerindian village site on Carriacou in the southern Caribbean, has revealed vast amounts of evidence that sheds light on Pre-Columbian adaptations to small island environments. More than a decade of research here and at other locations on Carriacou have revealed dozens of human burials, including many found in mortuary contexts rarely seen in this part of the Lesser Antilles. Ongoing research on past lifeways of prehistoric settlers has moved from osteological and paleodietary analysis to attempts at extracting ancient DNA and heavy isotope ratios of Pb and Sr to examine genetic affinities and mobility between islands and adjacent mainland areas. While the data are preliminary, interdisciplinary research on Carriacou is providing additional data on the inter-island movement of people, artifacts, animals, and other cultural behaviors.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• Migration and Mobility in the New World

Keywords

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