Investigating Variability in Lucayan (Bahamian) Microlith Assemblages
Author(s): Mary Jane Berman
Year: 2015
Summary
Chert is an imported non-local raw material that the Lucayans (Bahamas) obtained by way of direct procurement or trade and exchange with the Greater Antilles. The physical composition, morphological characteristics, and measurements of chert microlith assemblages from four Lucayan sites are compared to determine differences and similarities. The observed variability is explained in terms of inter-site differences in tool use and site function, and temporal changes in inter-island socio-political relations. While starch grain and phytolith analyses have determined that some microliths were used to process multiple plants, a few microliths yield evidence for one plant. Based on ethnographic data, the study will examine if these were single tools or components of specialized composite tools.
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Cite this Record
Investigating Variability in Lucayan (Bahamian) Microlith Assemblages. Mary Jane Berman. Presented at The 80th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, San Francisco, California. 2015 ( tDAR id: 398084)
This Resource is Part of the Following Collections
Keywords
General
Lucayans
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Microliths
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stone tool use
Geographic Keywords
Caribbean
Spatial Coverage
min long: -90.747; min lat: 3.25 ; max long: -48.999; max lat: 27.683 ;