Pre-Columbian Gems and Ornamental Materials from Antigua, West Indies

Stone Artefact Production and Exchange among the Lesser Antilles

“…This was the case, in particular, at the start of this research, although positive exceptions occurred as well (Knippenberg 1995;Van Tooren and Haviser 1999; see also Chapter 2). Fortunately, this situation has been recently changing as works by Murphy et al (2000), Bérard (1997Bérard ( , 1999, Bérard and Vernet (1997), and Rodríguez Ramos (2001a) have provided valuable new information on natural availability of different raw materials in the Caribbean. Still, crucial data on actual quarry areas is generally lacking since most references only report the general occurrence of specific materials on an island or within a certain geological formation, but without specifying actual quarry locations exploited by pre-Columbian inhabitants.…”

“…Crock (2000), for example suggested for many of the lithics found on Anguilla and originating on nearby St. Martin that they were obtained by direct procurement. In case of the ceramics and some of the exotic chert varieties, however, including material from Antigua, exchange more likely formed the means of acquisition (for other examples see Crock & Bartone 1998;Crock 1999Crock , 2000Murphy et al 2000;Rodríguez Ramos 2001a).…”

“…As Walker is very familiar with the Long Island material, his source classifications are considered reliable. Also, data from sites on Antigua excavated and published by Reg Murphy and Christy De Mille in recent years (De Mille 1996Murphy et al 2000), have been used to supplement my finds from Long Island and results from the limited analysis of the Fuess' sites. In relation to published work on lithic materials, studies from Haviser on St. Martin, and Crock and Petersen on Anguilla were very helpful as well (Crock 1999(Crock , 2000Crock & Petersen 1999;Haviser 1987Haviser , 1988Haviser , 1993Haviser , 1999.…”

“…However, they lack extensive production processes, such as, for example, net-weights (Keegan 1997) or metates (see Chapter 5). Core object technologies comprise bead, pendant, zemi and rare stone collar productions (Cody 1991(Cody , 1993Crock 1999;Crock & Bartone 1998;Murphy et al 2000;Narganes Storde 1999;Walker 1995;Watters & Scaglion 1994). All share the characteristic that the core itself is to be shaped into an end product, either very small in case of beads 4 or very large in case of metates (Knippenberg 001a).…”

“…Igneous rock is often used for metates (Knippenberg 2001a), while various rocks, including igneous rock, conglomerate, calcite and limestone are used for zemis. All sorts of semi-precious stones and rock crystals are used for making beads and pendants (Cody 1991(Cody , 1993Murphy et al 2000;Narganes Storde 1995Watters & Scaglion 1994). 6 3 In my definition, core tools include axes, adzes, metates, and net-weights.…”