Deriving calibrations for Arawakan using archaeological evidence

Abstract

This paper identifies time calibration points for accurately rooting and dating the phylogeny of Arawakan, the largest Indigenous linguistic family of the Americas. We present and model a methodology for extracting calibration points from the archaeological record, based on principles of geographical overlap between archaeological sites and Arawakan peoples, and on continuity in material culture between archaeological finds and modern Arawakan practices. Based on a consensus model of the expansion of the Arawakan family from Central Amazonia, we focus on archaeological finds in Arawakan expansion zones, where Arawakan material culture abruptly appears in a given region, and where only a single major Arawakan subgroup/clade is present. We find 12 calibration points from archaeological sites in Arawakan expansion zones and also identify more recent calibration points from the historical record based on first mentions of ethnonyms and early sources of lexical data.

Multidisciplinary approaches to the Amazonian past: introduction to the theme issue

“…Zariquiey et al [7] examine the Panoan language family, which is located further south in the Amazonian regions of central Peru, northern Bolivia and western Brazil. The paper by Michael et al [8] focuses on the Arawakan family, which is present in all of those areas, extending across much of the Amazon Basin and further north into the Guyanas and the Caribbean. Regarding timescales, the papers that examine the Northwest Amazon (van Gijn et al [6], Cayón & Chacon [4], Arias et al [5]) take a similar scope: these authors focus on Arawakan-Tukanoan contact, which likely emerged during the last 2500 years and continues to the present day [9].…”

“…Regarding timescales, the papers that examine the Northwest Amazon (van Gijn et al [6], Cayón & Chacon [4], Arias et al [5]) take a similar scope: these authors focus on Arawakan-Tukanoan contact, which likely emerged during the last 2500 years and continues to the present day [9]. Michael et al's [8] study of the Arawakan language family includes archaeological dates ranging from 2800 BP to 500 BP. Zariquiey et al [7] do not mention dates, but the Panoan family has been called 'shallow' [10], with estimates of its diversification ranging widely from a possible 3000 years [11] to about 1000 years BP [12].…”

“…Such estimates require calibration, however, and given the lack of documentation for ancient South royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsfs Interface Focus 13: 20220068 American languages, archaeological materials associated with the Arawakan expansion represent an important source for such calibrations. Michael et al [8] thus propose a set of archaeological calibration points and connect them to Arawakan linguistic subgroups in space and time, allowing for different degrees of uncertainty. These calibration points can be used to more precisely pinpoint particular nodes of an Arawakan phylogenetic classification in time, thus allowing for a more reliable application of an analysis with a variable change rate assumption.…”

“…The paper by Michael et al . [ 8 ] focuses on the Arawakan family, which is present in all of those areas, extending across much of the Amazon Basin and further north into the Guyanas and the Caribbean. Regarding timescales, the papers that examine the Northwest Amazon (van Gijn et al .…”

“…Michael et al . 's [ 8 ] study of the Arawakan language family includes archaeological dates ranging from 2800 BP to 500 BP. Zariquiey et al .…”