Late Quaternary vertebrate faunas of the Lesser Antilles: Historical components of Caribbean biogeography

Pregill, Gregory K.; Steadman, David W.; Watters, David R.

doi:10.5962/p.240776

Cited by 80 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…This seabird nests in burrows in soil or in crevices. Predation at the nests by humans and introduced mammals (cats and rats) and habitat destruction have depleted or eliminated populations of this small shearwater on many islands in the tropical Pacific (Steadman et al, 1990;Steadman and Pahlavan, 1992), and the West Indian islands of Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Barbuda, and Grenada (Brodkorb, 1963;Steadman et al, 1984<3;Watters et al, 1984;Pregill et al, 1994).…”

Section: Taxonomic Accounts Order Procellariiformesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We are aware of no previous records from Montserrat. Porphyrio martinicus has been recorded as well from archaeological sites on Antigua, Barbados, Martinique, and St. Kitts (Steadman et al, 1984a;Watters et al, 1984;Pregill et al, 1994). None of these islands currently sustains populations of P. martinicus.…”

Section: Order Gruiformesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Steadman et al (19846) reported that C. squamosa was also common in January 1983 in the forested ghauts on Montserrat. Columba squamosa has been recorded as well from archaeological and paleontological sites on Puerto Rico, Antigua, Barbuda, Martinique, and St. Eustatius (Wetmore,1952;Brodkorb, 1971;Steadman et al, 19846;Pregill et al, 1994;Maiz, 1996). Especially relative to Geotrygon mystacea, the bones of C. squamosa are much more common in Stratum C/D than in strata A or B.…”

Section: Order Columbiformes Family Columbidaementioning

confidence: 99%

“…They also exploited a variety of marine and terrestrial animals. The many thousands of bones from Saladoid sites on Montserrat and elsewhere suggest that these people had a dramatic effect on populations of terrestrial vertebrates, especially birds and rodents Pregill et al, 1994;Reitz, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Archaeology of Trants, Montserrat. Part 5. Prehistoric avifauna

Reis¹,

Steadman²

1999

Annals of the Carnegie Museum

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We report identifications of 225 bird bones from the Trants site, Montserrat, Lesser Antilles. The site was occupied by Saladoid peoples from ca. 500 bc to ad 400. The prehistoric bird assemblage represents 11 species and is dominated by pigeons, doves, and large passerines that probably were used as food by Saladoid peoples. The species of columbid found most commonly at Trants today (Zenaida aurita, characteristic of second-growth forest and edges) is uncommon in the bone assemblage, whereas bones of two other columbids not found at the site today (Columba squamosa and Geotrygonmystacea, both forest dwellers) are common. This suggests more forested conditions near Trants when Saladoid peoples occupied the site Three species of birds recorded from Trants (Puffinus Iherminieri, Porphyria martinicus, Amazona sp.) no longer occur on Montserrat. As on other West Indian islands, the avifauna of Montserrat has lost species to anthropogenic habitat destruction and predation by humans and introduced species. Catastrophic volcanic activity since 1995 has destroyed or degraded much of Montserrat's terrestrial ecosystems, undoubtedly with additional major negative impacts on the avifauna.

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Section: Taxonomic Accounts Order Procellariiformesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Order Gruiformesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Order Columbiformes Family Columbidaementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Archaeology of Trants, Montserrat. Part 5. Prehistoric avifauna

Reis¹,

Steadman²

1999

Annals of the Carnegie Museum

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“…In North America, some researchers argue that lithic artifacts with crushing and flake scars on opposing margins are not cores at all but instead are tools which were used to split bone and/or wood (e.g., LeBlanc, 1992). In Caribbean contexts, however, it makes more sense that bipolar battered artifacts are cores given the paucity of large mammals in the region prehistorically (e.g., Steadman et al, 1984;Wing, 1989;Pregill et al, 1994;Reitz, 1994), and the presence of both shell and ground stone woodworking tools.…”

Section: Flake Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeology of Trants, Montserrat. Part 4. Flaked stone and stone bead industries

Crock¹,

Bartone²

1998

Annals of the Carnegie Museum

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Trants is one of the earliest Ceramic period sites known anywhere in the Caribbean. Attribute analysis of lithic materials from the Trants site (MS-Gl) has determined the reduction processes associated with early Ceramic, or "Saladoid," period flaked stone and stone bead industries. Both industries feature the systematic, on-site reduction of exotic lithic materials. The flaked stone industry is characterized by the expedient production of flakes for utilitarian purposes, with little investment in tools having fixed morphologies. In contrast, the production of stone bead ornaments is characterized by a more complicated and labor-intensive process. This article describes the reduction sequences and compares the general attributes of the Trants assemblages to lithic industries known elsewhere in the region.

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A systematic review of agouti (Dasyproctidae: Dasyprocta) records from the pre‐1492 Lesser Antilles: New perspectives on an introduced commensal

Rabinow

Giovas

2021

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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The agouti (Dasyprocta sp.), a medium-sized neotropical rodent, was introduced by indigenous peoples to the Caribbean islands over a millennium ago and is recorded at archeological sites throughout the Lesser Antilles and southern Caribbean. Like many commensal fauna, these mammals are valuable proxies for deciphering ancient human practices and mobility. However, unsystematic reporting and ambiguous data hinder determination of the agouti's timing of entry, paths of dissemination, distribution, ecological impact, and cultural significance. Here, we present the first systematic review of all published records of which we are aware for pre-1492 agouti skeletal remains in the Caribbean, totaling 63 sites on 24 islands. On the basis of these data, we address the issue of archeological species attributions in relation to unresolved phylogenetic and taxonomic issues for Dasyprocta spp. In addition, we synthesize findings for agouti distribution, abundance, and chronology of occurrence. Data are consistent with an initial introduction to the northern Lesser Antilles by ca. AD 35 and perhaps as early as ca. 500 BC. While the midden contexts in which agoutis are almost always found affirm their use as food, ethnohistoric records point to the utilization of skeletal remains in ritual and artifact manufacture. This study provides the first region-wide synthesis of archeological agoutis and highlights the important insights to be gained from such systematic reviews. It is particularly significant for informing the potential ecological impacts of indigenous faunal introductions prior to Columbus's arrival.

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Late Quaternary vertebrate faunas of the Lesser Antilles: Historical components of Caribbean biogeography

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

Cited by 80 publications

References 37 publications

Archaeology of Trants, Montserrat. Part 5. Prehistoric avifauna

Archaeology of Trants, Montserrat. Part 5. Prehistoric avifauna

Archaeology of Trants, Montserrat. Part 4. Flaked stone and stone bead industries

A systematic review of agouti (Dasyproctidae: Dasyprocta) records from the pre‐1492 Lesser Antilles: New perspectives on an introduced commensal

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