Banwari Trace, an Archaic (pre-ceramic) site in southwestern Trinidad, is the oldest archaeological site in the Caribbean. The site has revealed two separate periods of occupation; one between 7200 and 6100 BP (Strata I and II) and the other between 6100 BP and 5500 BP.
Dated to about 5000 BCE or 7000 B.P (years Before Present), the archaeological site at Banwari Trace in southwestern Trinidad is the oldest pre-Columbian site in the West Indies. At this time, Trinidad was still part of South America. Archaeological research of the site has also shed light on the patterns of migration of Archaic (pre-ceramic) peoples from mainland South America to the Lesser Antilles via Trinidad between 5000 and 2000 BCE.
Discovery
In November 1969, the Trinidad and Tobago Historical Society discovered the remains of a human skeleton at Banwari Trace. Lying on its left-hand side, in a typical Amerindian “crouched” burial position along a northwest axis, Banwari Man (as it is now commonly called) was found 20-cm below the surface. Only two items were associated with the burial, a round pebble by the skull and needlepoint by the hip. Banwari Man was apparently interred in a shell midden and subsequently covered by shell refuse. Based on its stratigraphic location in the site’s archaeological deposits, the burial can be dated to the period shortly before the end of occupation, approximately 3,400 BC or 5,400 years old.[1]
This skeleton is considered to be the oldest one found in the Caribbean. This demonstrates the presence of the Caribbean's first inhabitants.
Artefacts found
The Banwarian preceramic assemblage is highly distinctive, typically consisting of artifacts made of stone and bone. Objects associated with hunting and fishing include bone projectile points, most likely used for tipping arrows and fish spears, beveled peccary teeth used as fishhooks, and bipointed pencil hooks of bone which were intended to be attached in the middle to a fishing-line. A variety of ground stone tools were manufactured for the processing of especially vegetable foods, including blunt or pointed conical pestles, large grinding stones and round to oval manos. It should not be confused with the Ortoiran assemblage, which is much later ca BC 1000, and located in southeast Trinidad. [2]
Recognition
In 2004, Banwari Trace was included in the 2004 World Monuments Watch, by the World Monuments Fund, a private international organization. It was hoped that listing would help garner the financial and technical support necessary to properly survey, document, preserve, interpret, and protect the site.
banwari, trace, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march, 2019. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Banwari Trace news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Banwari Trace an Archaic pre ceramic site in southwestern Trinidad is the oldest archaeological site in the Caribbean The site has revealed two separate periods of occupation one between 7200 and 6100 BP Strata I and II and the other between 6100 BP and 5500 BP Contents 1 Origins 2 Discovery 3 Artefacts found 4 Recognition 5 See also 6 External links 7 ReferencesOrigins EditDated to about 5000 BCE or 7000 B P years Before Present the archaeological site at Banwari Trace in southwestern Trinidad is the oldest pre Columbian site in the West Indies At this time Trinidad was still part of South America Archaeological research of the site has also shed light on the patterns of migration of Archaic pre ceramic peoples from mainland South America to the Lesser Antilles via Trinidad between 5000 and 2000 BCE Discovery EditIn November 1969 the Trinidad and Tobago Historical Society discovered the remains of a human skeleton at Banwari Trace Lying on its left hand side in a typical Amerindian crouched burial position along a northwest axis Banwari Man as it is now commonly called was found 20 cm below the surface Only two items were associated with the burial a round pebble by the skull and needlepoint by the hip Banwari Man was apparently interred in a shell midden and subsequently covered by shell refuse Based on its stratigraphic location in the site s archaeological deposits the burial can be dated to the period shortly before the end of occupation approximately 3 400 BC or 5 400 years old 1 This skeleton is considered to be the oldest one found in the Caribbean This demonstrates the presence of the Caribbean s first inhabitants Artefacts found EditThe Banwarian preceramic assemblage is highly distinctive typically consisting of artifacts made of stone and bone Objects associated with hunting and fishing include bone projectile points most likely used for tipping arrows and fish spears beveled peccary teeth used as fishhooks and bipointed pencil hooks of bone which were intended to be attached in the middle to a fishing line A variety of ground stone tools were manufactured for the processing of especially vegetable foods including blunt or pointed conical pestles large grinding stones and round to oval manos It should not be confused with the Ortoiran assemblage which is much later ca BC 1000 and located in southeast Trinidad 2 Recognition EditIn 2004 Banwari Trace was included in the 2004 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund a private international organization It was hoped that listing would help garner the financial and technical support necessary to properly survey document preserve interpret and protect the site See also EditOrtoiroid people Ortoire archaeological site History of Trinidad and TobagoExternal links EditBanwari Trace in Trinidad the Oldest Site in the West Indies from the Archaeology Centre University of the West Indies Trinidad and Tobago Banwari Trace from triniview comReferences Edit Banwari Trace Archaeological Site http trinidad tobago strabon caraibes org index php option com content amp view article amp catid 29 pre columbian amp id 78 banwari man amp Itemid 58 permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Banwari Trace amp oldid 1079790992, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
