Zooarchaeology of Cinnamon Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands: Pre-Columbian Overexploitation of Animal Resources

Abstract

The zooarchaeological remains from a stratigraphic sequence excavated from the ceremonial site of Cinnamon Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, were studied. The samples were recovered using a fine-gauge (1/16 in) screen. During the course of this study, 443 minimum numbers of individuals and 99 species of vertebrates and invertebrates were identified. The fauna was analyzed by estimating the trophic level of reef, inshore, and pelagic zooarchaeological components from three strata representing the Monserrate (ca. A.D. 950), Santa Elena (ca. A.D. 570), and Chican (ca. A.D. 460) ceramic periods. The trophic level model shows an initial increase in the trophic level of taxa from the reef between the Monserrate and Santa Elena periods. This initial increase corresponds to the exponential growth of midden density. Relative to the earlier faunal assemblages, midden density and the mean trophic level of reef resources declines during the Chican period. Greater reliance on pelagic species from the deeper waters offshore and the increased use of mollusks from inshore habitats is also seen. The data show that at low levels of cultural complexity humans can alter their environments. This is particularly true of island biota where biological reservoirs are small.