Histories and Trajectories of Socio-Ecological Landscapes in the Lesser Antilles: Implications of Colonial Period Zooarchaeological Research

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe plantation era in the Caribbean was characterised by significant ecological degradation and change through the shift to sugar monoculture, and the introduction of exotic taxa to the island, leading to the extensive depletion of native flora and fauna. During European colonial rule in this region, marginalised and enslaved communities developed informal domestic economies such as artisanal fishing, small-scale animal husbandry and agriculture to survive within this oppressive structure. Zooarchaeology from this period offers insight into the variability of historical human eco-dynamics, and how these pasts impact modern social, economic and ecological systems. This study presents archaeological case studies from three plantation sites in the Lesser Antilles, from the islands of Martinique, Barbados and Dominica, to illustrate the potential contributions of historical archaeology to understanding long-term human–environment interaction, and explore the ecological consequences of colonialism in the Caribbean. Results of faunal analysis at the three sites suggest that resilient, small-scale subsistence and economic practices that persist today began during slavery, and that these data provide a more nuanced picture of past and present issues of biodiversity, ecosystem health and food security in the Caribbean.