A movable feast - Archaeologists Find New Evidence Of Animals Being Introduced To Prehistoric Caribb

An archaeological research team from North Carolina State University, the University of Washington and University of Florida has found one of the most diverse collections of prehistoric non-native animal remains in the Caribbean, on the tiny island of Carriacou. The find contributes to our understanding of culture in the region before the arrival of Columbus, and suggests Carriacou may have been more important than previously thought.

Carriacou is just north of the island of Granada, in the SE corner of the Carib.

Importing animals

found the animal remains at two different sites on the island, and used carbon dating techniques to determine their age. The opossum and agouti were the most common, with the latter remains reflecting the longest presence, running from A.D. 600 to 1400. The guinea pig remains had the shortest possible time-frame, running from A.D. 985 to 1030.

Great thread Hans,once again it shows that you don't need alien overlords to wipe our collective historical bums !

Originally posted by Cygnus_Hunter
Great thread Hans,once again it shows that you don't need alien overlords to wipe our collective historical bums !

Well yes think of those intrepid native americans herding those dreaded guinea pigs to their new island home. A Carribbean 'rawhide' I tell you

Perfect packed lunches for an afternoon or two of island hopping.I wonder if it was a 10,or 20 guinea pig trip to the islands? Each measurable unit of space could be quantified by the consumption of a piggy..or a 5gp walk to the next village !

Thanks for sharing. Here's a map of the Caribbean for those needing a visual aid like myself.

Map of Caribbean

Nice post - guess we know what these islanders considered a staple of their diet, if they went to the trouble of herding them from one island to the next on their boats.