The Earliest Inhabitants: The Dynamics of the Jamaican Taino

ivalve inhabiting intertidal sands. Thus the assemblage from Rodney’s House
typifies the coastal environments of Port Henderson Hill, with its rocky headlands
and sandy beaches.
In summary, we conclude that while the molluscs preserved on Taíno sites
undoubtedly give some valuable insight into the Taíno diet, this may be to
some extent distorted by spurious additions (terrestrial molluscs living on the
site) and absences (large molluscs which were butchered on the shore).
Arguments concerning human population size that are based solely on shellfish
found on archaeological sites may, therefore, be unsound.
Neutron Activation Analysis of Pottery
Twelve pottery samples from six sites in the area ( Jacks Hill, Harbour View,
Bellevue, Chancery Hall, Rodney’s House and Norbrook) were chosen for the
study at the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences at
the University of the West Indies, to be carried out with the technique of neutron
activation analysis (NAA). The objective was to determine whether the
potters employed the same clay source and, if variations were detected,
whether these reflected different clay sources or some other factor – for
instance, different vessel types. Hence, there was an attempt to include as
varied a selection as possible from each site, including rims and body sherds
with different inclusions, and two griddles.
Results
A total of twenty-seven major, minor and trace elements was found. The concentrations
of these elements are summarized in Table 2.2.
Discussion
Two striking points emerge from a study of these figures. First, there is a
general homogeneity in the quantity of each element present in each sample
site. The degree of homogeneity is particularly clear if only the four major elements
(Al, Fe, Ti and Ca) are considered. Second, the values for these elements
are consistent with their known occurrence in the soils of the Kingston
area. Aluminium has an appropriate occurrence of between 8 and 10 per cent;
iron, less than 1 per cent; titanium, between 0.49 and 0.7 per cent; and calcium,
between 1 and 2 per cent (Lalor 1995). Histograms of the major elements
in the sampled sites compared with the levels in the soils of the
Kingston area are shown in Figure 2.2.
T HE TAÍNO S ETTLEMENT OF THE K INGSTON A REA
41