07.12.2020 Views

Origins of the Tainan Culture, West Indies

by Sven Loven

by Sven Loven

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

was alloyed by Carib tribes in <strong>the</strong> Venezuelan highlands south<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Orinoco and had spread from <strong>the</strong>re to Espanola.1)<br />

These regions have never been an Indian gold centre.<br />

Guanin was a variable alloy <strong>of</strong> gold with copper containing<br />

silver from Andean Colombia. 2 )<br />

Archaeologically considered, guanin or caricoli in Colombia<br />

has its proper centre in <strong>the</strong> Cauca Valley. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand,<br />

pure gold predominates among <strong>the</strong> Chibchas, although caricoliobjects<br />

are certainly not rare within <strong>the</strong>ir former domain.3),<br />

such as crescent-shaped nose-adornments or ornaments for <strong>the</strong><br />

breast, made <strong>of</strong> thin plate. The origin <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> guanin in <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong><br />

<strong>Indies</strong> also, I will seek for in <strong>the</strong> Cauca Valley. From <strong>the</strong>re it<br />

passed in trade by way <strong>of</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn Venezuela eastward and<br />

found its way to <strong>the</strong> Antilles over Paria. Gold went out from<br />

<strong>the</strong> Chibchas into <strong>the</strong> interior <strong>of</strong> Venezuela, and it was worked<br />

<strong>the</strong>re in certain gold-centers. But so far as I can find out, it<br />

was only pure gold that was melted and worked in <strong>the</strong>se places.<br />

Such a" community was Cabritu, at <strong>the</strong> bend <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Orinoco.4)<br />

The islands in Lake Tacarigua were ano<strong>the</strong>r centre <strong>of</strong> gold trade<br />

although it is not expressly said that gold was melted <strong>the</strong>re. 5)<br />

However it seems to have been <strong>the</strong> case, because <strong>the</strong>y melted<br />

gold not so far from <strong>the</strong>re in a place on <strong>the</strong> Indian trail along<br />

<strong>the</strong> south side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Serrania del Interior.6)<br />

From what <strong>the</strong> cacique Topiawari, probably a True Arawak,<br />

living on <strong>the</strong> coast south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Orinoco delta, told RALEIGH it<br />

appears that most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gold that <strong>the</strong> Indians here had in <strong>the</strong><br />

form <strong>of</strong> "plates and images" was not gold mined in <strong>the</strong> monn-<br />

') camp. L'Ortevrerie des Antilles de Guyanes et du Venezuela, J. Soc. Americauistes<br />

de Paris, n. s., t. XV <strong>the</strong> map. p. 192 and p. 193--194.<br />

2) Camp. H. ARSANDA'C'X and P. RIYET, L'Orjevrerie du Chiriqui et de Colombie,<br />

p. 177, analysis from "da province d'Antioquia", and p. 178, "d'origine Chibcha".<br />

3) RESTREPO TIRADO, Atlas, PI. IX, Fig. 20, two semilunar nose-ornaments,<br />

"gilded".<br />

4) SD-rON, .Yol. 3, p. 222. "Crisoles", casting-moulds. Nothing is said about<br />

alloying.<br />

5) OYIEDO Y BANOS, Vol. II, Doc. p. 226: "algunas islas, las cuales estan pob­<br />

Jarlas, estos indios tratan oro, es gente pacifica."<br />

ill See OVIEDO, Vol. II, p. 247.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!