Pre-Colombian Jamaica: Caribbean Archeology and Ethnohistory

246 / Appendix D.
Botany Bay Cave. The opening of the cave faces the south, and is from five
to six feet in diameter. It leads into a very irregular sloping cavern, extending
a distance of twenty- five feet. The vertical height is in places twenty feet, and
the average width about ten feet; the roof and sides are covered with stalactitic
matter. Many blocks of stone, loosened from the roof, have fallen on the floor,
and, along with a thick deposit of cave earth, cover some of the remains. When
first discovered the more distant part of the floor was largely strewn with portions
of human skulls exhibiting the frontal flattening, and numerous other
bones associated with fragments of pottery. On a slightly raised ledge at the
back were found five nearly complete skulls. No perfect examples of pottery
were obtained. A search amongst the debris and loose earth revealed similar remains,
but no additional objects of anthropological interest, with the exception
of two or three broken marine shells.
Cambridge Hill Cave. Although generally distinguished by this term this
cave is a little to the south of Cambridge Hill and slightly more distant from the
sea than the previous one. From the surface it presents merely the appearance of
a steep, narrow crevice in the rugged limestone rock, two or three feet across,
and twenty- seven feet in length. Two step- like projections occur between the
aperture and the termination, [28] and on these as well as at the bottom, bones
were found promiscuously scattered and mingled with the cave earth.
Seven practically perfect crania were secured and fragments of many others.
From this cave was obtained the best collection of aboriginal earthenware
vessels now existing in the island. On the second ledge from the opening were
found, embedded amongst the cave earth, thirty- one artificially chipped and
perforated shells of Oliva reticularis, described on page 45.
One of the flattened skulls was laid on its side in the most ornamental vessel
of the collection, (Plate VI, Fig. 1).
Dallas Castle.
This cave, investigated by the Rev. W. W. Rumsey, in August 1895, is situated
in the south east part of St. Andrew, about three miles from the coast. It
occurs in a hillside, the interior presenting no declivity.
The aperture varies from two to four feet across, and not more than two or
three adults could possibly occupy the cave at one time.
The country people report that formerly the place contained many skulls and
bones, some of which have been removed by obeahmen for their superstitious
practices, while others have been buried by the people themselves. Mr. Rumsey
only obtained a large, coarse, circular vessel with a human lower- jaw inside.
Red Hills— Historical Accounts.
Sir Hans Sloane, in the Introduction to his “Voyage, etc. (1707),” an important
work treating largely of the Natural History of Jamaica, from material col-