The Biographies of Bodily Ornaments from Indigenous Settlements of the Dominican Republic (AD 800–1600)

Abstract

In this study, we generate novel insights regarding bodily ornaments from indigenous societies of late precolonial Greater Antilles. Previous research has highlighted the sociopolitical role of valuable, exotic, and figurative ornaments, yet there are many gaps in our current understanding of these artifacts. Here, we focus on ornaments from five recently excavated sites in the Dominican Republic (AD 800–1600). We used microwear analysis to investigate each ornament and assess its production sequence and use life. These data permitted the definition of morpho-technical groups, which we then compared to depositional contexts and the regional availability of raw materials. We demonstrate that (1) there was small-scale production of ornaments at the sites, (2) the most recurrent morpho-technical groups were likely imported from production centers, and (3) ornaments of the same group could lead different use lives and be deposited through varied processes. We conclude that bodily ornaments had highly diverse biographies involving local and regional interaction networks.

Revisiting lithic edge characterization with microCT: multiscale study of edge curvature, re-entrant features, and profile geometry on Olduvai Gorge quartzite flakes

“…Volumetric quantification of objects in archaeological studies using microCT, whether experimental tools/materials, actual artifacts, organic remains, or fossils, is proving to be a valuable analytical tool for researchers. In the majority of cases, microCT is used on the macroscale, primarily for morphometric reconstructions and analyses of the shapes, dimensions, and/or internal structures of bone, shell, tooth, ceramic, glass, plant, stone, and wood (e.g., Abel et al, 2011;Agostino et al, 2016;Arnaud et al, 2016;Beck et al, 2012;Bello and Galway-Witham, 2019;Bello et al, 2013aBello et al, , 2013bBosch et al, 2019;Bradfield, 2013Bradfield, , 2015Calo et al, 2019;Dreossi et al, 2010;Guzzo Falci et al, 2020;Gerlach et al, 2006;Kahl and Ramminger, 2012;Karl et al, 2014;Machado et al, 2017;Mizuno et al, 2010;Ngan-Tillard et al, 2018;Viallet, 2019;Woods et al, 2017;Xing et al, 2018).…”

Diversity and similarity in the Ceramic Age lapidary production in the Caribbean islands

“…Exhaustive and reliable data for lapidary production for 11 and 18 sites for raw material and typology, respectively, show different patterns based on the periodization. For raw materials, this analysis completes the initial analysis that included Gare Maritime, Vivé, Morel, and Anse à la Gourde (Queffelec et al 2020) with Hope Estate (Queffelec 2022) and Baie Orientale 2 (Fouéré dans Bonnissent et al 2013) for Saint Martin, Royall's and Elliot's (Murphy et al 2000) for Antigua, and El Flaco, El Cabo and Playa Grande in Dominican Republic (Falci, Ngan-Tillard, et al 2020). The obtained diversity profiles highlight a clear pattern linked to the period of occupation of the archaeological sites (Figure 1).…”

Adornos corporais indígenas no circum-Caribe

“…No quarto artigo, volta-se a atenção para as Antilhas Maiores durante os séculos finais da Idade Cerâmica, antes da chegada dos europeus (por volta de 1000 a 1500 d.C.). Esse período está representado por coleções de cinco sítios de assentamento recentemente escavados em diferentes regiões da República Dominicana: El Cabo, Playa Grande, El Flaco, La Luperona e El Carril (GUZZO FALCI et al, 2020b). Matérias primas variadas se apresentam na forma de contas, pingentes e auriculares, como diorita, calcita, conchas marinhas e dentes.…”