Encyclopedia of Caribbean Archaeology

“A diverse and thorough encyclopedia of terms, places, people, and issues relevant to Caribbean archaeology, past and present.”—Todd J. Braje, author of Modern Oceans, Ancient Sites

“Spanning the Bahamas in the north to Trinidad and Tobago in the south, this book allows readers a vantage point of comparative analysis through which to arrive at their individual interpretations of controversial subjects. An unparalleled feat in Caribbean historiography.”—Keith Tinker, author of The Migration of Peoples from the Caribbean to the Bahamas

Encyclopedia of Caribbean Archaeology offers a comprehensive overview of the available archaeological research conducted in the region.

Beginning with the earliest native migrations and moving through contemporary issues of heritage management, the contributors tackle the usual questions of colonization, adaptation, and evolution while embracing newer research techniques, such as geoinformatics, archaeometry, paleodemography, DNA analysis, and seafaring simulations. Entries are cross-referenced so readers can efficiently access data on a variety of related topics.

The introduction includes a survey of the various archaeological periods in the Caribbean, as well as a discussion of the region’s geography, climate, topography, and oceanography. It also offers an easy-to-read review of the historical archaeology, providing a better understanding of the cultural contexts of the Caribbean that resulted from the convergence of European, Native American, African, and then Asian settlers.