When excavated, this cave contained eight different layers. (see sketch of stratigraphic profiles) Carbon-14 dates on charcoal from the layers produced the following chronology:
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Table A-1 |
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Layer |
Description |
C-14 dates years BP (before present) |
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Layer 1 (top) |
15 cm layer of disturbed sediments, including artifacts from recent historical periods, with sterile rubble at the base |
400 + 100 BP |
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Layer 2 |
10 cm layer of undisturbed sediments under the rubble, rich in organic remains and stone features |
570 + 100 BP |
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Layer 3 |
10 cm layer, including charcoal blown into the site from forest fires is common in the sediments of this level |
630 + 100 BP |
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Layer 4 |
10 cm layer |
710 + 200 BP (from top of this layer) 800 + 100 BP (from base of layer) |
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Layer 5 |
15 cm layer |
1,200 + 150 BP (middle of layer) |
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Layer 6 |
20 cm layer |
1,850 + 100 BP (top of layer) |
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Layer 7 |
20 cm layer with evidence of canine burial |
2,360 + 100 BP (top of layer) |
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Layer 8 |
30 cm thick layer, with undifferentiated sandy sediments and low density of artifacts |
3,300 + 200 BP (from top of layer) 3,500 + 300 BP (from base of layer) |
Table A-2 below shows approximate frequencies of the artifact types found in the different layers. Note how the frequencies change through time.
· type 1 = flaked stone adze
· type 2 = chert blades
· type 3 = S. gigas chipped adze
· type 4 = S. gigas ground adze
· type 5 = Codakia sp. scraper
· type 6 = expedient shell tool (unknown species)
· type 7 = ceramic griddle
· type 8 = spinning whorl
· type 9 = obsidian
· type 10 = bone fishhooks
· type 11 = bone awls
· type 12 = beads made from S. gigas shells
· type 13 = ceramic adornos
· type 14 = Saladoid ‘zic-ware’ pottery
· type 15 = Troumassoid pottery
· type 16 = Suazoid pottery
[blank = absent; X=present, but rare; XX=common; XXX=abundant)
Table A-2 Artifact types in each layer.
| Layer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 1 | X | X | XX | |||||||||||||
| 2 | X | X | X | X | XXX | X | XXX | |||||||||
| 3 | XX | X | X | X | XX | X | XX | XX | ||||||||
| 4 | XX | X | XX | X | XX | X | XXX | X | X | |||||||
| 5 | X | X | X | X | XX | X | X | X | X | X | X | XX | ||||
| 6 | X | XX | X | XX | X | XXX | X | X | X | XX | X | X | X | |||
| 7 | XX | XXX | XXX | XXX | X | X | XX | XX | X | |||||||
| 8 | XX | XX | X | X |
Table A-3 and Table A-4 below show approximate frequencies of the food remains found in the different layers. Note how the frequencies change through time.
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Table A-3: Relative frequency of carbonized plant remains in each layer. |
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Layer |
manchineel |
sweetsop |
palm |
copal resin |
palm fruit |
hog plum |
domestic cotton |
mahogany |
Mexican poppy |
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1 |
XXX |
X |
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2 |
X |
X |
X |
XXX |
XX |
X |
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3 |
XX |
X |
XX |
XX |
XX |
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4 |
X |
X |
XX |
X |
X |
X |
X |
XX |
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5 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
XX |
XX |
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6 |
X |
XX |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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7 |
XX |
XX |
X |
X |
X |
XX |
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8 |
XX |
X |
X |
X |
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XX |
XX |
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Table A-4: Relative frequency of bones and other animal remains in each layer |
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Layer |
land crab |
marine shellfish |
large fish |
small fish |
Rice rat |
tuna |
hutia |
manatee |
duck |
domestic goat |
domestic cattle |
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1 |
X |
XXX |
XX |
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2 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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3 |
X |
XX |
X |
X |
X |
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4 |
X |
XX |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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5 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
XX |
X |
X |
X |
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6 |
X |
XX |
X |
XX |
XX |
XXX |
X |
X |
X |
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7 |
XX |
XX |
X |
XX |
XXX |
X |
XX |
X |
XX |
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8 |
XX |
X |
XXX |
XXX |
X |
XX |
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