Abstract

The majority of archaeological sites in the Caribbean are under threat from various natural and cultural processes. This is particularly true for the smaller and more vulnerable islands in the Lesser Antilles. Here we report on the 2001 rescue recovery of human skeletal remains that were observed to be actively eroding into the sea at Boiling Rock, an Archaic Age site along the southeast coast of Barbuda. Analysis of the remains, representing three individuals, included an osteological inventory, stable isotope analysis to infer paleodiet, and direct radiocarbon dating. While excavation and recording were expedited due to the need for salvaging the skeletal remains and associated archaeological material, the results are an important contribution to the early stages of settlement on the island. This includes adding to the inventory of known Archaic Age sites on Barbuda (from six to seven), providing the only directly dated Archaic individual on the island going back to 3560–3220 cal years BP, isotopic analysis revealing a reliance on endemic marine protein and terrestrial C₃ carbohydrates, and the description of grave goods, which is generally rare for burials of this age.

摘要

加勒比地区的大多数考古遗址都受到各种自然和文化进程的威胁。对于小安的列斯群岛较小且较脆弱的岛屿来说尤其如此。在此，我们报道了 2001 年在巴布达东南海岸的沸腾岩古风遗址中发现的人类骨骼遗骸的救援工作，这些遗骸被严重侵蚀到海洋中。对代表三人的遗骸进行的分析包括骨学清单、推断古饮食的稳定同位素分析以及直接放射性碳测年。虽然由于需要抢救骨骼遗骸和相关考古材料，加快了挖掘和记录工作，但其结果对岛上早期定居做出了重要贡献。₃碳水化合物，以及随葬品的描述，这对于这个时代的墓葬来说一般很少见。