Zooarchaeology of the Vertebrate Fauna of Tibes: Uniformity in Transition

Summary

This paper presents the results of a recent zooarchaeological analysis of vertebrate remains from the Tibes Ceremonial Center near Ponce, Puerto Rico. Two excavation units contained intact and undisturbed deposits with the potential to provide information pertaining to social dynamics and socio-cultural change at the site. Radiocarbon dates from the two units indicate that each archaeological deposit occurred during times of perceived dynamic social and cultural activities on the island. During these transitional periods, there were discernible changes in material culture—especially ceramic styles. The vertebrate fauna contained in these assemblages pertain to the consumption and distribution of animal foods, as well as other ways in which animals were used at the site. This includes the possible use of animals in ceremony. The results of this study, combined with previous zooarchaeological studies at Tibes, demonstrate that changes in material culture through time do not always correlate to changes in human behavior regarding food and animal use.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Recent Research at the Ceremonial Center of Tibes, Ponce, Puerto Rico

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