Pre-Colombian Jamaica: Caribbean Archeology and Ethnohistory

178 / Appendix A.
in accordance with Reid’s claim that both Redware and White Marl type ceramics
occurred together at the site. The occupation is exclusively White Marl
in character.
A radiocarbon date on charcoal found near the base of the section, in layer
3, was obtained as follows: Beta-167740 680 ± 60 b.p. (a.d. 1270 ± 60). This
date is consonant with those for other White Marl occurrences on the island,
the calibrated date range being ca. a.d. 1280–1390.
Lisabeth Carlson (2003a) has analyzed the fauna from the 2002 excavations.
A total of 4,152 bones produced a minimum number of individuals (MNI)
of 123. Twenty- five different species were identified, excluding invertebrates.
Most numerous were fish, with 95 individuals, of which the most common
were groupers (Serranidae) and parrot fishes (Scaridae). The second most important
resource was provided by hutía, with an MNI of 17. It should be noted
that two bones of iguana (Cyclura collei) were recovered in level 1. This lends
weight to Johnson’s observations at Cinnamon Hill (J10) despite the reservations
expressed by C. B. Lewis at the time. Carlson comments that the “density
of bone is very high and the preservation of the pieces of bone is excellent,” so
additional work at the site could not fail to provide good evidence.
It should be noted that this site, which has a very commanding position,
may correspond to one mentioned by Columbus. When he was stranded on the
north coast of Jamaica in 1503 (presumably at St. Ann’s Bay) Diego Mendez
was dispatched to obtain supplies, which he did in two nearby villages. From
there, he records, “I went on to visit a great cacique, whose name was Huareo,
at a place now called Melilla, which was thirteen leagues from the ships”
(Cohen 1969:311). Melilla is generally assumed to be the equivalent of Port
Maria, which is below the site, hence this may have been the headquarters of
Huareo.
References: AJ 1966, 6:1; 1967, 1:1; Carlson 2003a; Cohen 1969; Howard
1950; Reid n.d., 1990; Payn and Morley 1982.
Coleraine (Y19)
Located and mapped in detail by Lee in 1970. “This village site is of special significance
not only because of its size but also because we believe it to be one of
the few Arawak sites actually named in historical documents. It occupies the
summit and easterly flanks of a low hill near the mouth of the Wagwater river.
Over 30 distinct house locations can be counted, all with their marginal midden
accumulations, and many other patches of midden material, within an area
of five acres. It was, without any doubt, a village of major importance.” Lee re-