Publisher's Synopsis
A true 'first,' this encyclopedia is the only comprehensive guide ever published on the archaeology and traditional culture of the Caribbean.
In The Peoples of the Caribbean, archaeologist Nicholas J. Saunders assembles for the first time a comprehensive sourcebook on the archaeology, folklore, and mythology of the entire region, charting a story 7,000 years in the making. Drawing on decades of study in the Caribbean and South America, Saunders explores landmark archaeological sites, such as Caguana in Puerto Rico, with its ceremonial architecture and ballcourts, and plantation sites, such as Jamaica's Drax Hall.
The author dives into the underwater archaeology of Spanish treasure galleons and untangles stories of cannibalism, zombies, and hallucinogenic snuffing rituals. He examines the impact of key Europeans, such as Christopher Columbus, and introduces readers to the native people, such as the Arawak, who welcomed them. Bringing the story up-to-date, Saunders chronicles the struggle of the indigenous people, from the Caribs of Dominica to the Taìno of the Dominican Republic, trying to reclaim and revitalize their historical cultural identity.
- 500 A-Z entries on all major prehistoric civilizations and archaeological sites ranging from Amazons and Black Legend to Shamanism and Vodoun
- Comprehensive introductory essay providing a framework of the archaeological and cultural heritage of the Caribbean peoples
- References with each entry as well as a comprehensive end-of-volume bibliography, making further research easy
- Chronology of the Caribbean's diverse prehistoric, colonial, and modern peoples from c. 5,000 B.C. to the present
