The Aborigines of Puerto Rico and Neighboring Islands

Preface

PREFACE Contrary to many other sciences, archaeologists have a tendency to find decades-old scholarly publications of great value. This is, in part, because some of the ideas and explanations are still valid , but also because the authors had an opportunity to observe archaeological sites before they were impacted by later modern activities. They were also able to collect or buy unique objects at a time when there were few private collectors and when the market for antiquities was almost nonexistent. The Aborigines ofPuerto Rico and the Neighboring Islands is one of these books that is still being widely quoted by most Caribbean archaeologists. In 1898 and after the mysterious explosion of the USS Maine, the United States declared war on Spain. This conflict ended in a matter of months, and the U.S. gained "booty" that included Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Philippines, and Guam. Shortly afterward , many American government and academic institutions sent researchers and chroniclers to explore and report on the new American possessions. One of these institutions was the Smithsonian, which sent Jesse W. Fewkes to Puerto Rico. Fewkes was an archaeologist who had worked extensively in the American Southwest and had published widely on that region . Upon his arrival in Puerto Rico and after researching many sites and collections, it was clear to Fewkes that in order to understand the ancient history ofthis island, he had to broaden his research to the rest of the Caribbean archipelago. His research eventually extended from St. Vincent on the southern end of the island chain to Cuba, and it included excavations and studies of ceramics, rock art, and ceremonial objects. While this work is probably Fewkes's most popular book, his publication records include dozens of articles and books on Caribbean archaeology. The book is written as a long essay, or monograph, without chapters, but it is organized in sections. Like most American anthropologists of his time, it is clear from the number of topics 4 PREFACE included in the book that Fewkes had a holistic perspective of culture. These topics included the geographical characteristics of Puerto Rico, race, kinship, political divisions, houses, secular customs, religion, and others. Another important aspect of the book is that Fewkes did not limit his work only to the archaeology of the island; he also conducted ethnographic work in the regions he visited. This is reflected in the sections on present descendants and race. The publication also includes data on a large number of artifacts, rock art, and ethnographic houses and people. This volume will be of interest to a great number of people including Caribbean archaeologists or archaeology students, historians of the Caribbean, anthropologists, scholars interested in topics such as U.S. expansionism and the history of archaeology , and the general public. L. Antonio Curet, series editor ...