A Multi-Isotope Investigation of Human and Dog Mobility and Diet in the Pre-Colonial Antilles

Abstract

The complex relationships between humans and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) have a very deep and unique history. Dogs have accompanied humans as they colonised much of the world, and were introduced via human agency into the insular Caribbean where they became widespread throughout the Ceramic Age. It is likely that the dynamic interactions between humans, dogs, and their environments in the Caribbean were spatially, chronologically, and socially variable. However, almost no research has specifically addressed the nature, or potential variability, of human/dog interactions in this region. This study presents isotopic (strontium and carbon) evidence bearing on human and dog paleomobility and paleodietary patterns in the precolonial Caribbean. The isotope results illustrate a generally high degree of correspondence between human and dog dietary practices at all analysed sites but also slight differences in the relative importance of different dietary inputs. Striking parallels are also observed between the human and dog mobility patterns and shed light on broader networks of social interaction and exchange. Lastly, the paper addresses the possible utility and relevance of canine isotope data as proxies for inferring past human behaviours. ARTICLE HISTORY

87Sr/86Sr and 14C evidence for peccary (Tayassuidae) introduction challenges accepted historical interpretation of the 1657 Ligon map of Barbados

“…The archaeological land snail (SH-14-12) from the Greenland site, within the Scotland District, plots low (0.70808) but is consistent with modeled Sr ratios of 0.707–0.708 for this geologically distinct area [55]. The prehistoric dog (BBD-HY-1) from the Heywoods site exhibits a local signal (0.70912), which contrasts with findings for the interisland transport of dogs elsewhere in the pre-Columbian Antilles [24, 25]. Our Sr results show a tight correspondence between bioavailable Sr and local geology and do not support a dust signal from Saharan or Bodélé Depression sources in biologically available Sr, although additional study is needed.…”

“…This study provides evidence for a previously unrecognized peccary introduction to Barbados and indicates the presence of this animal on the island in the 17 th or 18 th century. Along with this new record of human-assisted introduction, our results expand bioavailable Sr data for Barbados and contribute to ongoing efforts to map the West Indian Sr isoscape [22, 25, 34, 51, 54, 55, 57]. Further investigation is required to determine the species, timing, source, and number of animals involved in peccary translocation, and the size and persistence of the population on the island.…”

“…87 Sr /86 Sr ratios have been used extensively to detect ancient mobility in animals and humans, [24, 25, 39–43]. The means by which Sr inputs from the environment are incorporated biologically and the analytic considerations entailed in their measurement have been described in detail by others [39, 44–46] and are reviewed only briefly here.…”

“…In the West Indies, 87 Sr /86 Sr analysis has been applied to understand patterns of human and animal movement between islands and the continent [22, 24, 25, 49–53] and reconstruct exchange networks through the sourcing of wood and animal-tooth artifacts [34, 35, 54]. Modelling and empirical studies conducted in the last decade have produced a more robust understanding of the 87 Sr /86 Sr isoscape of the islands and South American circum-Caribbean [22, 51, 54, 55], with recent efforts expanded to include multi-isotopic approaches [25, 34, 52] and evaluation of Sr inputs from African dust transport, notably from Saharan and Bodélé Depression sources, to the Caribbean [56, 57] (see also [58–60]).…”

Dietary variation among indigenous Nicaraguan horticulturalists and their dogs: An ethnoarchaeological application of the Canine Surrogacy Approach

“…Overall, many reports suggest that dog diets appear to reflect general similarities to those of humans (within 2-3‰ in both δ 15 N and δ 13 C; see Guiry 2012). Yet, others show a disparity in stable isotope values between humans and dogs (Eriksson and Zagorska 2003, Byers et al 2011, Pearson et al 2015, Tsutaya et al 2014, Ames et al 2015, Laffoon et al 2017, which raises doubts about the applicability of CSA in archaeological contexts.…”