The Turtlers of Early 18th Century Grand Cayman

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Innovative Approaches to Finding Agency in Objects" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The turtle fishery off the coast of the Cayman Islands was a well-known supplier of meat for mariners involved in the trans-Atlantic trade of the 18th century. Salted and barreled or taken aboard live, these reptiles played a vital role in shipboard foodways. The Turtle Bone Site, located on the north side of Grand Cayman’s Rum Point, is believed to be the oldest terrestrial archaeological site on the island, dating to the very early 1700s. The faunal assemblage, which includes over 1,700 specimens, and the accompanying artifacts provide an opportunity to examine the culture and identity of 18th century turtlers. Anthropological approaches to this analysis identify the social landscapes these turtlers engaged in as well as elements of agency present within these larger cultural systems.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020   •
• Innovative Approaches to Finding Agency in Objects

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 894