The Earliest Inhabitants: The Dynamics of the Jamaican Taino
by Lesley-Gail Atkinson
by Lesley-Gail Atkinson
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vations above 300 m (Adams 1972); yet <strong>the</strong> Paradise Park site was a coastal<br />
settlement.<br />
<strong>The</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> known Taíno sites are located in <strong>the</strong> interior valleys and<br />
coastal plains (Atkinson 2002), which were <strong>the</strong> first places for human<br />
settlement. Many former Taíno sites were settled upon by <strong>the</strong> Spanish and<br />
subsequently by <strong>the</strong> British, and are now in built-up areas, as illustrated by<br />
Seville, St Ann, and Spanish Town, St Ca<strong>the</strong>rine. It is only in remote areas<br />
away from human disturbance that one could begin to search for evidence <strong>of</strong><br />
incidental dispersal.<br />
Conclusion<br />
Traditionally, faunal analysis has predominated in archaeological investigation,<br />
and floral analysis has been sidelined. However, <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
discipline <strong>of</strong> palaeoethnobotany is bringing about a change in attitude towards<br />
<strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> floral evidence. In Jamaica, a great deal <strong>of</strong> useful information<br />
can be obtained through <strong>the</strong> analysis <strong>of</strong> macro- and microbotanical<br />
remains. It has become obvious that we have barely scratched <strong>the</strong> surface <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> evidence regarding <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> flora to <strong>the</strong> Taíno, as plants had<br />
medicinal, subsistence and religious roles as well as food value. <strong>The</strong>re is also<br />
<strong>the</strong> issue <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Taínos’ impact on <strong>the</strong> natural environment, which was briefly<br />
discussed in this chapter. <strong>The</strong> Taínos’ role in <strong>the</strong> introduction <strong>of</strong> new flora<br />
has been considered minimal in comparison with that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Europeans; however,<br />
it is now recognized that <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> cassava, maize and o<strong>the</strong>r nonindigenous<br />
plants indicate that <strong>the</strong>y did contribute, directly or indirectly, to<br />
<strong>the</strong> present vegetation <strong>of</strong> Jamaica.<br />
Figure 7.7 Members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Paradise Park 2001 excavations measuring <strong>the</strong> Ceiba tree at<br />
<strong>the</strong> Meillacan site. From left: Bill Rogers, Dan Keegan, Bill Keegan, Ralph Pax, Mary<br />
Lou Pax, Bob Gezon, Nadia Manning and Lesley-Gail Atkinson. (Courtesy <strong>of</strong> William<br />
F. Keegan.)<br />
112 T HE E ARLIEST I NHABITANTS