Pre-Colombian Jamaica: Caribbean Archeology and Ethnohistory

Aboriginal Indian Remains in Jamaica by J. E. Duerden / 235
W. W. Rumsey, who first opened it, states that the skulls and other parts of the
skeletons were arranged somewhat in a row under the pieces of a canoe. An old
resident at Botany Bay affirms that when he first saw the cave there, the skulls
were placed side by side. Beyond this, there is no trustworthy account of any orderly
arrangement of the skeletons or pottery in the caves. In those recently examined,
the bones and pottery were promiscuously scattered on the surface of
the floor and ledges, or were partially or completely buried in the debris of cave
earth and stones. No evidence is forthcoming to show that the bones were purposely
covered with earth or stones. Many are more or less broken or decayed;
others again, especially those from Halberstadt, are very perfect.
In no case is there any appearance of artificial construction connected with
the formation of the caves; the roof and sides have often stalactitic matter upon
them. The aperture of the Halberstadt cave, as already mentioned, was closed
with boulders when first discovered, and numerous similar stones generally
found around the mouth of the others may indicate that it was the custom of
the natives to protect their dead in this way. The distribution of the burial caves
is practically the same as that of the kitchen- middens, i.e., around the borders
of the island (see map). The limestone in which the caves occur is usually so
weathered as to give a rugged character to the districts.
A small variety of objects, such as shells, shell- beads, and bones of other animals,
has been found in addition to the human bones and pottery.
Human Bones
Bones of all parts of the skeleton, and representing both sexes and all ages, have
been obtained. Many are in a good state of preservation, but those embedded
in damp cave earth are considerably decayed. The Halberstadt cave has, in recent
times, yielded the most extensive series, one or more components of the
skeleton of at least thirty-[22]four individuals being represented, including a
number of crania. The Richmond Hill and Botany Bay caves contained many
complete skulls and other bones.
The important and obvious features distinguishing most of the cave skulls
from those of Europeans or Negroes are the flattened frontal region and the
marked brachycephalic form; the latter exaggerated no doubt by the process
involved in the former. Not all the skulls, however, exhibit this artificial deformation
of the sinciput to a marked degree.
Practically all the osteological remains recently obtained have been handed
over to Prof. A. C. Haddon for complete report.
About half of those from the Halberstadt cave were, some time ago, forwarded
to Sir William H. Flower, and were exhibited by him before the British