Prehistoric and Ancient Historic Interactions
13
that found in crested bird pins attributed to the Calusa of southern Florida, estimated to be from the period after contact with Europeans (i.e., after 1492, and
probably after 1521; Larson, 1993).
Tortoiseshell was used in various ways for ceremonial and ornamental objects.
These include hairpins, inserts to portray the pupil of the eye in various wooden
carvings of animals, and wings for bird effigies (Schaffer and Ashley, in press).
The shell and scutes of E. imbricata are thought to have been objects of religious
importance for the Calusa (Schaffer and Thunen, in press, and citations therein).
The fact that tortoiseshell, as well as other mortuary objects such as sharks’
teeth, Dover flint, and certain ceramics, is not found locally at inland Etowah sites
indicates that an exchange or trade system in the southeastern U.S. brought exotic
raw materials and craft products to southern Georgia. It has even been suggested
that tortoiseshell was a trade item used by the Calusa throughout the southeastern
region (Larson, 1993). In fact, it appears that like marine shells (Foster, 1874: 234),
hawksbill materials and crafts entered into extensive trade during pre-Columbian
times, because — along with marine shells — they were found in Hopewell sites
(about 200 B.C.E.–400 C.E.) as distant from the sea as Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio
(Shetrone and Greenman, 1931: Figures 57–59; Fagan, 1995: 411 f.f., 420).
The period between the Kiawah Island and Etowah sites represents a span of
nearly three and a half millennia. However, there seems to be little specific information on the dates of marine turtle materials from the southeastern U.S.
Another region where marine turtle remains are common is the Caribbean basin
(Table 1.3). Wing and Reitz (1982) reported relicts of these animals in association
with human sites, continental and insular, that date from 1380 B.C.E. to 1715 C.E.
Marine turtle remains were recorded in 37 of 47 collections (16 of which were on
peninsular Florida), and they were the principal vertebrate remains identified at
some sites. Remains from turtles of various sizes, including small-sized individuals
(such as at Middle Caicos, see Wing and Scudder, 1983: 209), and abundant remains
at sites that are not now close to known nesting beaches, provide evidence that
Caribbean peoples took turtles from feeding grounds, and not just from nesting
beaches (Wing and Reitz, 1982: 20–21). Evidently marine turtles were an important
part of the diet and culture of many of these past societies. On the other hand,
several hypotheses were offered to explain an apparent under-representation of
marine turtle remains at some sites: seasonal habitation of coastal areas at that time
of year when the turtles were not present; a taboo, or active avoidance, on consuming turtles; and the effect of transporting meat from a large animal, and leaving
large amounts of the bony remains outside of archaeological sites (Wing and Reitz,
1982: 21).
The remains of “many bones of large sea-turtles” at Golden Rock, St. Eustatius,
are reportedly from the largest pre-Columbian excavation in the Lesser Antilles, a
site dated at about 500 C.E., or 1500 years ago. An intact marine turtle, except for
the cranium, was assumed to have been decapitated before burial; and, because
sponge spicules were found in the body cavity, it was assumed to be a hawksbill,
the species known to specialize on sponges (Versteeg and Effert, 1987: 11, 18). No
explanation was offered for the burial of a decapitated turtle, and any number of
hypotheses are possible, including some form of ceremonial burial.
1123_C01.fm Page 13 Friday, November 15, 2002 11:13 AM
13
that found in crested bird pins attributed to the Calusa of southern Florida, estimated to be from the period after contact with Europeans (i.e., after 1492, and
probably after 1521; Larson, 1993).
Tortoiseshell was used in various ways for ceremonial and ornamental objects.
These include hairpins, inserts to portray the pupil of the eye in various wooden
carvings of animals, and wings for bird effigies (Schaffer and Ashley, in press).
The shell and scutes of E. imbricata are thought to have been objects of religious
importance for the Calusa (Schaffer and Thunen, in press, and citations therein).
The fact that tortoiseshell, as well as other mortuary objects such as sharks’
teeth, Dover flint, and certain ceramics, is not found locally at inland Etowah sites
indicates that an exchange or trade system in the southeastern U.S. brought exotic
raw materials and craft products to southern Georgia. It has even been suggested
that tortoiseshell was a trade item used by the Calusa throughout the southeastern
region (Larson, 1993). In fact, it appears that like marine shells (Foster, 1874: 234),
hawksbill materials and crafts entered into extensive trade during pre-Columbian
times, because — along with marine shells — they were found in Hopewell sites
(about 200 B.C.E.–400 C.E.) as distant from the sea as Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio
(Shetrone and Greenman, 1931: Figures 57–59; Fagan, 1995: 411 f.f., 420).
The period between the Kiawah Island and Etowah sites represents a span of
nearly three and a half millennia. However, there seems to be little specific information on the dates of marine turtle materials from the southeastern U.S.
Another region where marine turtle remains are common is the Caribbean basin
(Table 1.3). Wing and Reitz (1982) reported relicts of these animals in association
with human sites, continental and insular, that date from 1380 B.C.E. to 1715 C.E.
Marine turtle remains were recorded in 37 of 47 collections (16 of which were on
peninsular Florida), and they were the principal vertebrate remains identified at
some sites. Remains from turtles of various sizes, including small-sized individuals
(such as at Middle Caicos, see Wing and Scudder, 1983: 209), and abundant remains
at sites that are not now close to known nesting beaches, provide evidence that
Caribbean peoples took turtles from feeding grounds, and not just from nesting
beaches (Wing and Reitz, 1982: 20–21). Evidently marine turtles were an important
part of the diet and culture of many of these past societies. On the other hand,
several hypotheses were offered to explain an apparent under-representation of
marine turtle remains at some sites: seasonal habitation of coastal areas at that time
of year when the turtles were not present; a taboo, or active avoidance, on consuming turtles; and the effect of transporting meat from a large animal, and leaving
large amounts of the bony remains outside of archaeological sites (Wing and Reitz,
1982: 21).
The remains of “many bones of large sea-turtles” at Golden Rock, St. Eustatius,
are reportedly from the largest pre-Columbian excavation in the Lesser Antilles, a
site dated at about 500 C.E., or 1500 years ago. An intact marine turtle, except for
the cranium, was assumed to have been decapitated before burial; and, because
sponge spicules were found in the body cavity, it was assumed to be a hawksbill,
the species known to specialize on sponges (Versteeg and Effert, 1987: 11, 18). No
explanation was offered for the burial of a decapitated turtle, and any number of
hypotheses are possible, including some form of ceremonial burial.
1123_C01.fm Page 13 Friday, November 15, 2002 11:13 AM