Crossing the Borders

by Hofman, Corinne L.; Hoogland, Menno L. P.; Van Gijn, Annelou L.

• ISBN13: 9780817354534
• ISBN10: 0817354530
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-03-19
• Publisher: Univ of Alabama Pr

Summary

Crossing the Borders describes new methods and techniques in the study of archaeological materials from the Caribbean and assesses possible avenues of mutual benefit and integration. Exploring the advantages and disadvantages in the application of a selected number of newly emerging methods and techniques, each of these approaches is illustrated by a case study. These studies benefited from a diverse array of experience and the international background of the researchers from Canada, the Netherlands, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Martinique, Italy, Mexico, Dominican Republic, England, and the United States who are integral members of the archaeological community of the Caribbean. A background to the study of archaeological materials in the Caribbean since the 1930s is provided in order to contextualize the latest developments in this field. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Corinne L. Hofman, Menno L. P. Hoogland, and Annelou L. van Gijn, are all on the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, The Netherlands

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. ix
Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries and National Borders: New Methods and Techniques in the Study of Archaeological Materials from the Caribbean	p. 1
Provenance Studies
In Tuneful Threefold: Combining Conventional Archaeological Methods, Archaeometric Techniques, and Ethnoarchaeological Research in the Study of Precolonial Pottery of the Caribbean	p. 21
American Gold and European Brass: Metal Objects and Indigenous Values in the Cemetery of El Chorro de Maita, Cuba	p. 34
Chert Sourcing in the Northern Lesser Antilles: The Use of Geochemical Techniques in Discriminating Chert Materials	p. 43
Functional Studies of Artifacts
A New Material to View the Past: Dental Alginate Molds of Friable Artifacts	p. 69
Saladoid Lapidary Technology: New Methods for Investigating Stone Bead Drilling Techniques	p. 78
Lithic Technology: A Way to More Complex Diversity in Caribbean Archaeology	p. 90
Tool Use and Technological Choices: An Integral Approach toward Functional Analysis of Caribbean Tool Assemblages	p. 101
Understanding the Function of Coral Tools from Anse a la Gourde: An Experimental Approach	p. 115
The Significance of Wear and Residue Studies: An Example from Plum Piece, Saba	p. 125
Starch Residues on Lithic Artifacts from Two Contrasting Contexts in Northwestern Puerto Rico: Los Muertos Cave and Vega de Nelo Vargas Farmstead	p. 137
The Buren in Precolonial Cuban Archaeology: New Information Regarding the Use of Plants and Ceramic Griddles during the Late Ceramic Age of Eastern Cuba Gathered through Starch Analysis	p. 159
New Trends in Paleobotanical and Paleo-Osteological Research
Caribbean Paleoethnobotany: Present Status and New Horizons (Understanding the Evolution of an Indigenous Ethnobotany)	p. 173
New Evidence of Two Different Migratory Waves in the Circum-Caribbean Area during the Pre-Columbian Period from the Analysis of Dental Morphological Traits	p. 195
Tracing Human Mobility with [superscript 87]Sr/[superscript 86]Sr at Anse a la Gourde, Guadeloupe	p. 214
Epilogue: The Correct Answer Requires the Right Question (and the Technology to Back It Up)	p. 226
References Cited	p. 233
Contributors	p. 285
Index	p. 291
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