Introduction 2 Methods and Terminology 4 Sources of Vertebrate Faunas 4 Regional Cultural Chronology 4 Vertebrate Fossil Localities in the Lesser Antilles

Thin sections from 44 sherds representing eight prehistoric sites on four islands (Barbuda, Montserrat, Anguilla, St. Martin) in the northern Lesser Antilles (West Indies) were examined using a petrographic microscope. Point counting distinguished three temper associations: (1) exclusively volcanic,(2) volcanic and carbonate, and (3) volcanic, carbonate, and grog. Exclusively volcanic or dominantly volcanic (with low carbonate) temper associations occur in all Saladoid and many post‐Saladoid sherds, with plagioclase feld‐spar and volcanic rock fragments being most abundant. Thin sections with significant carbonate content or with grog were restricted to post‐Saladoid sherds from Barbuda and to a lesser extent Anguilla. the presence of volcanic grains in sherds from the limestone islands of Barbuda and Anguilla indicates that volcanic islands in the region served as sources of pottery (or volcanic temper) for these two islands.

A small sample of Afro-Montserratian ceramics was recovered from the Harney site where 1 7 Black slaves were excavated from an unmarked 1 8 th century cemetery on the island of Montserrat, West Indies. The 20 fragmentary sherds, representing eight ceramic vessels, were recovered from the fill above three of the in situ burials and from disturbed contexts. The sherds probably were inadvertent inclusions in the graves rather than purposefully emplaced grave goods. Dated minimally to the latter half of the 1 8th century on the basis of associated artifacts, these ceramics are described using vessel lot and attribute based methods. This detailed documentation establishes the relationship between the Harney site ceramics and other similar samples derived from a common African tradition of coilbuilt, open hearth-fired ceramic manufacture in the West Indies.

We report our identifications of fish, reptile, bird, and mammal bones from two archaeological sites on Montserrat. The sites, known as Trant's and Radio Antilles, both represent the Saladoid culture, a ceramic-producing people who colonized the Lesser Antilles approximately 2000 years ago. As indicated by the vertebrate remains we have identified, the Saladoid peoples of Montserrat used both the marine and terrestrial vertebrates of the region. The former are represented by fish and sea turtles. The fish remains include forms characteristic of both deep and shallow waters. Terrestrial vertebrates are represented by iguanas, a variety of birds (mostly pigeons and doves), at least two species of extinct oryzomyine rodents, and a bat. Two other mammals recovered from the sites, the agouti and the dog, are not indigenous to Montserrat but were transported there by Saladoid peoples. Although this sample of 746 bones reveals some important new records for the vertebrate fauna of Montserrat (especially the extinct rodents), it is too small to provide a definitive picture of the prehistoric man-animal relationships on this island.

We report our identifications of fish, reptile, bird, and mammal bones from three prehistoric sites on Barbuda. The sites of Indiantown Trail, Sufferers, and Overview Cave contain few examples of the distinctive ceramics associated with the initial Saladoid colonization of the Lesser Antilles in the first centuries A.D. All of Barbuda's sites represent more recent, post-Saladoid occupation except for a possible late Saladoid (Mill Reef) component at the Sufferers site. Marine vertebrate remains from these sites represent bony fish, shark, manatee (Trichechus manatus), and a shearwater (Puffinus Iherminieri). Most of the species of fish occur either in inshore waters or over shallow reefs, two habitats that abound near Barbuda. Terrestrial vertebrates are represented by two species of lizards (notably including the extinct iguanid, Leiocephalus cuneus), two species of doves, and an extinct oryzomyine rodent. Fragmentary turtle remains could represent either marine species (Cheloniidae) or the tortoise Geochelone carbonaria. Of the 2516 bones in the sample, 2503 (MNI = 147) are from uncontaminated units.