The Earliest Inhabitants: The Dynamics of the Jamaican Taino
by Lesley-Gail Atkinson
by Lesley-Gail Atkinson
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Figure 5.3 Chancery Hall Taíno site, St Andrew<br />
<strong>The</strong> archaeological value <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site was diminished as a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> developers’<br />
actions. It is unfortunate that <strong>the</strong> areas where Taíno sites are located<br />
are those that have been selected for real estate development. Archaeologists<br />
believe that many o<strong>the</strong>r Taíno sites have been destroyed in o<strong>the</strong>r hilly areas<br />
<strong>of</strong> Kingston and St Andrew, such as Norbrook.<br />
Long Mountain, St Andrew<br />
Concerns about <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> Long Mountain were not just archaeological<br />
in nature. In addition to housing several archaeological sites, in particular<br />
Taíno sites, Long Mountain is <strong>the</strong> only remaining locale <strong>of</strong> dry<br />
limestone forest in Kingston and St Andrew (see Figure 5.4). Archaeologists,<br />
land developers and environmentalists agreed that development would take<br />
place only on a section <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mountain behind Beverly Hills and facing<br />
Kingston Harbour. <strong>The</strong> area designated for <strong>the</strong> housing development was<br />
excavated ahead <strong>of</strong> development. Recommendations were made for changes<br />
in road alignment, and <strong>the</strong> developers followed <strong>the</strong>se suggestions. <strong>The</strong> section<br />
facing <strong>the</strong> University <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> West Indies, Mona, would be preserved, as this<br />
side was also <strong>the</strong> home <strong>of</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> larger Taíno sites that are in need <strong>of</strong><br />
fur<strong>the</strong>r pr<strong>of</strong>essional research ( JNHT Survey 2002).<br />
<strong>Jamaican</strong> archaeologists have not been able to conduct long-term research<br />
on most Taíno sites. Long-term work was conducted at <strong>the</strong> White Marl Taíno<br />
T HE I MPACT OF L AND-BASED D EVELOPMENT ON TAÍNO A RCHAEOLOGY IN J AMAICA<br />
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