Pre-Colombian Jamaica: Caribbean Archeology and Ethnohistory

Aboriginal Indian Remains in Jamaica by J. E. Duerden / 251
could be obtained, the others having been destroyed or buried. Sufficient of the
skull remains, however, to show that it had been artificially flattened in front.
The cave occurs on what is known as Burnt Ground Pasture, now more or
less ruinate, and about three quarters of a mile from the sea. It is open at each
end, being merely a large irregular, under- ground passage in the White Limestone,
which all around is considerably honey- combed and cavernous.
The upper end is now partially closed by a deposit of rock debris, but may
perhaps have been walled- up at one time; the lower end opens nearly vertically
to the surface of the ground, from a depth of about six feet. The length is about
twenty-five feet. Inside it is regularly arch- shaped, being nearly eight feet broad
and three or four feet high [31] in the middle. The roof has stalactitic matter
upon it, while the floor is covered to a considerable depth with boulders, bat
manure, pieces of broken pottery, and bones.
It is evident that the cave has been entered and the contents much disturbed
on previous occasions, and, as already indicated in Mr. Domville’s account, the
superficial human objects removed. Those remaining were mostly fragmentary,
and buried in the brownish manure deposit. Most of the bones are much
decayed from being embedded in the earth, and from attacks by ants. Several
lower- jaws, many free teeth, portions of skulls, and numerous long bones and
other parts of the skeleton were obtained, indicative of every variety of age. Of
five lower- jaws collected four are those of old individuals who had lost most of
their teeth, the sockets being nearly obliterated. From all the remains found,
and others which can be traced, more than a dozen individuals are shown to
be represented.
Large quantities of pieces of pottery were obtained, one remarkable feature
being the great size of the vessels they represent. From the curvature of some
it is safe to assert that the diameter when perfect must have been between one
and two feet. The ornamentation and handles are of the usual type, the vessels
appearing to most closely resemble those obtained form the Cambridge Hill
cave and from those at Vere.
Although a careful search was made amongst the debris on the floor, the
cave did not yield anything else of anthropological interest, with the exception
of a few flints.
It seems probable that, as in the case of the other caves described, the California
cave represents an aboriginal burying place, and that some of the larger
vessels were used as urns in which to place the skulls, while the smaller ones
served to contain food and water supplied to the dead.
The discovery of cave relics in this particular district is all the more interesting
because of the numerous refuse- heaps found on the surrounding hills, all
pointing to this part of St. James as being one of importance in pre- Columbian
times.