The Archaeology of the Caribbean
The Archaeology of the Caribbean
A comprehensive synthesis of Caribbean prehistory from the earliest settlement by humans more than 4000 years BC, to the time of European conquest of the islands. The Caribbean was the last large area in the Americas to be populated, and its relative isolation allowed unique cultures to develop. Samuel Wilson reviews the evidence for migration and cultural change throughout the archipelago, dealing in particular with periods of cultural interaction when groups with different cultures and histories were in contact. He also examines the evolving relationship of the Caribbean people with their environment, as they developed increasingly productive economic systems over time, as well as the emergence of increasingly complex social and political systems, particularly in the Greater Antilles in the centuries before the European conquest. Wilson also provides a review of the history of Caribbean archaeology and the individual scholars and ideas that have shaped the field.
- First synthesis written by one of a new generation of Caribbean scholars
- Amply illustrated, with detailed descriptions of sites and projects of special significance to Caribbean archaeology
- Avoids jargon and technical language giving a basic introduction to the main themes and developments affecting Caribbean people in the past
Reviews & endorsements
'Wilson offers a well-organised, well-written and timely study of Caribbean archaeology that underscores the dynamic and diverse nature of Caribbean societies before and after the arrival of Europeans.' New West Indian Guide
Product details
October 2007Paperback
9780521626224
222 pages
227 × 150 × 10 mm
0.31kg
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The first human colonization of the Caribbean
- 3. The Saladoid phenomenon
- 4. The Taino
- 5. The Caribbean on the eve of European contact
- 6. The Caribbean after the arrival of Europeans
- 7. Conclusions.
