Pre-Colombian Jamaica: Caribbean Archeology and Ethnohistory

234 / Appendix D.
Belle Vue.
On the side of a road cutting through Belle Vue, on the northern border of
St. Ann, Dr. Plaxton discovered an accumulation of shells associated with fragments
of coarse pottery. These were presented to the Museum and suggest the
desirability of a further examination of the spot.
[21]
CHAPTER II
BURIAL CAVES
Owing to the numerous natural caves in Jamaica, the method of burial practiced
by its aborigines appears to have been different from that generally followed
by the various native tribes on the American continent. Amongst these,
the more usual course evidently was to bury their dead in specially constructed
mounds, “Sepulchral mounds being met with throughout the United States”
(Nadaillac). The so- called White and Yellow Limestone of Jamaica, considered
to be of Tertiary age, occupies about five- eighths of the surface of the island;
and caves, sink- holes, and underground passages are common in many districts.
The floors of most of these contain only phosphatic deposits, mainly derived
from the faeces of innumerable bats and the decomposition of the limestone.
Others, however, have been known for a long time, and are even yet
occasionally being discovered, which contain quantities of skulls and other human
bones, examples of coarse earthenware vessels, with now and again other
objects of archaeological interest. Rarely have the refuse- heaps yielded any human
bones, the two exceptions being those at Cranbrook and Caymanas. Beyond
these, bones of the aborigines have not been found otherwise than in
caves. During recent excavations in various parts of Kingston, and in some
few other places, human bones have been met with, either Negro or European.
In the caves known for a long time the relics have suffered by depredations on
various occasions, and most of the objects have been destroyed or distributed
beyond the island. It is to be regretted that in no instance have we an account
of any cave which can be undoubtedly regarded as being in the original condition
in which it was left by the Indians at least two or three hundred years ago.
Probably nearly all have been visited and so disturbed by the later inhabitants—
European and Negro— at one time and another, that in no case can much reliance
be placed upon the present position or arrangements of the objects. The
Halberstadt cave, when discovered last year, showed least indication of having
been tampered with. The entrance was closed by loose boulders, and the Rev.