Human History of the Bahamas

What were the 3 core sites on Andros Island?

1. Rainbow Blue Hole 2. Stalactite Blue Hole 3. Chruch's Blue Hole

What are two sources of fire?

1. Thunderstorms 2. Human activities

What 3 sites on San Salvador Island were used for core samples?

1. Triangle Pond 2. Little Lake 3. Six Pack Pond

When did the Caribbean Indians come up the Lesser Antilles?

6000 to 8000 years ago

What affect did the Europeans and Africans have on Eleuthera Island?

After extinction of the Lucayans there is evidence that vegetation disturbance and increased fire frequency moved inland while palms recovered near the coast

What happened after the Lucayan tribe went extinct?

Fire frequency decreased, but then increased again after Europeans and Africans settled in the islands

When was the earliest evidence of the Lucayan tribe found & where was it found?

Found on San Salvador Island around 1000 to 1200 years BP

Paleoecological Techniques

Interactions between organisms and their enviroment over geological timescales - Kjellmark did this through soil samples from a core-ing rig

What is known about Lucayan history on Andros Island & European and African history?

Lucayan: Poorly known. Only a few pieces of archaeological evidence are known Eurpoean & African: Poorly known. Andros was not very extensively settled or farmed until recently

What is known about the Lucayan and European & African history on Eleuthera Island?

Lucayan: Relatively unknown, though some artifacts have been found along the coasts European & African: Limited knowledge, but the island was used for agriculture during the Plantation period in the 1800s

Palynology Techniques

Study of pollen spores - Kjellmark would take his core samples and study them underneath a microscope to determine what plants where there at the time via the pollen spores that could be identified

What happened 50 years after Columbus made landfall?

The Lucayan tribe went extinct

How are Pinewoods affected by fire?

The pines survive the fire, but the understory shrubs are killed back to the roots

What happens in areas where fire is suppressed?

The understory shrubs of the pinewoods grow into trees

What conclusions can be made about how the Lucayans affected the vegetation on San Salvador?

The vegetation was not dramatically affected, except for the increase in fire frequency near the coast but not inland

Can small populations of people effect the environment?

They can have significant environmental impacts, especially on small vulnerable island ecosystems

What affect did the Lucayans have on Eleuthera Island?

They cleared palms shortly after they arrived on the island, especially near the coast & they increased fire frequency

Why did the Spanish leave the Bahamas relatively uninhabited?

They found few resources & poor agricultural land, so they settled on the other islands in the Caribbean

What happened to the vegetation upon Lucayan arrival?

Settlers increased the fire frequency and promoted the spread of fire-maintained pinewoods replacing tropical hardwood forests

Which Island did Columbus land on?

San Salvador

What is known about the Lucayan and European & African history on San Salvador Island?

Lucayan: The most extinsively studied island for Lucayan archaeology. Population size, diet, & effects on local resources have been studied European & African: Relatively known since written documentation from the Plantation period exists. The island was extensively cleared and cultivated

What is the Bahama Archipelago made up of?

Made up of the emergent tops of a series of carbonate banks

In the 1600's the British gained control....

Of the Bahamas were Henry Morgan (Bluebeard the pirate) used the islands to launch raids on Spanish ships

Where did the Lucayans settle?

On the coasts to harvest fish and shellfish & they also cleared land to grow crops

How do you study an extinct tribe of people who left no written records, no permanent structures and few artifacts?

Paleoecology and Palynology (what Kjellmark did) & Archaeology

Who are the Lucayians?

People who were driven out of the Antilles and went up to the Bahamas

What affects Pinewoods?

Pinewoods cover most of the eastern half of Andros Island and is frequently burned