
Saba's First Inhabitants
A story of 3300 years of Amerindian occupation prior to European contact (1800 BC - AD 1492)
Sidestone Press
Published on 8. February 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
112 pages
978-90-8890-359-5 (ISBN)
Description
This book tells the story of the indigenous inhabitants of the Caribbean island of Saba prior to European colonization, based on 30 years of archaeological research conducted by Leiden University in collaboration with the government and people of Saba. The pre-colonial history of Saba begins around 3800 years ago with the first fishers-foragers and plant managers occupying the interior of the island at Plum Piece, Fort Bay, The Level and Great Point. The exceptional character of Saba with its volcano, diverse vegetation, and fauna, attracted Amerindian communities from the prime episode of human occupation of the insular Caribbean, first on a temporary basis and later, from AD 400 on, permanently. They then settled in Spring Bay, Kelbey's Ridge, Windwardside, St. Johns, and The Bottom just like today. Their villages consisted of a series of dwellings of wood, fibres and leafs, surrounded by hearths and garbage dumps. The deceased were buried in the village, often under the floor of the houses. The Amerindians on Saba maintained extensive relationships with communities and kin on neighbouring islands. The artefacts which have been found on Saba show these connections.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Leiden
Netherlands
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
100 fc.
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 150 mm
ISBN-13
978-90-8890-359-5 (9789088903595)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Prof. dr. Corinne L. Hofman is Professor of Caribbean Archaeology at the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, the Netherlands. She has conducted fieldwork - together with Dr. Menno Hoogland - in many of the Caribbean islands over the past 30 years.
Content
Foreword
by Jay B. Haviser
Preface
by Corinne L. Hofman and Menno L.P. Hoogland
1. Saba, an isolated island?
Island setting
Amerindian settlement patterns
2. Pre-Colonial history of Saba
Amerindian occupation of Saba
Tales of the Europeans
3. Island life 3800 years ago
Saba's first inhabitants
4. Fishers, collectors, foragers and horticulturalists
Village life
Handicrafts
Worldview
5. Archaeologiscal sites on Saba before 1492
Archaeological investigations on Saba
Guided tour of major Amerindian sites
by Jay B. Haviser
Preface
by Corinne L. Hofman and Menno L.P. Hoogland
1. Saba, an isolated island?
Island setting
Amerindian settlement patterns
2. Pre-Colonial history of Saba
Amerindian occupation of Saba
Tales of the Europeans
3. Island life 3800 years ago
Saba's first inhabitants
4. Fishers, collectors, foragers and horticulturalists
Village life
Handicrafts
Worldview
5. Archaeologiscal sites on Saba before 1492
Archaeological investigations on Saba
Guided tour of major Amerindian sites