And Now for Something Completely Different: Pre-Columbian Adaptations on Guanahani (San Salvador), the Bahamas

There remains considerable debate over the scale and nature of impacts by pre-industrial small-scale societies on the natural environment. Bringing a new line of evidence to this debate, we present the results of a radiocarbon and stable isotope project undertaken on pre-Columbian (Lucayan) human remains from Guanahaní (San Salvador), The Bahamas. The dates obtained range between ca. AD 900 and 1400, encompassing much of the known settlement history of the island. Associated human stable carbon isotope (δ13C) values changed significantly over this period, from ca. –11.7‰ to ca. –14.6‰, suggesting a decline in the use of marine resources, interpreted as a result of local resource depletion through over-exploitation, impacting on human decision-making in favour of greater emphasis on managed terrestrial resources. The results demonstrate the potential for even small human populations to significantly affect their environments.

The AWRC have reserved a lunch table in Hall for Cluster members to meet with our speaker Rick Schulting, followed by his talk in the Levett Room at 1:15, catered with cake and tea/coffee (all welcome).