Caribbean Area--Antiquities

The term artifact denotes a framework for conceptualizing
the physio-chemical modification of environmentally occurring
raw materials by human, cultural processes. This thesis
examines the categories of artifact analysis, and integrates
these into a development sequence. This sequence represents
the processes which pattern all artifacts. They can be
summarized as occurring at four stages: (1) selection of
raw materials; (2) construction techniques; (3) artifact use
and function; (4) formation of the archaeological record.
The result of this integration is a heuristic model that
recognizes the unity and complexity of cultural materials,
and provides a base for processual studies. A separate part
of this thesis employs Strombus gigas shell artifacts from
the prehistoric cultures of the Caribbean to indicate the
utility of the artifact development sequence as a theoretical
conceptualization.

In the St. Johns River area of Florida, the preceramic period has
been found to have certain different artifact types than the
neighboring Archaic traditions. These different artifact types--
shell gouges and celts--have their closest similarities with types
from the preceramic of Venezuela and Cuba. It was postulated that
the influence for the similar shell tools was derived from the
original settlement of the Caribbean area by migrating groups from
the northern South American coast. It was further postulated that
the original inhabitants of the St. Johns area were part of the
migrating groups and that they arrived in the area probably by way
of the Everglades. Evidence from the Caribbean area preceramic
periods was examined for proof of this migration. Finally, a possible
linguistic relationship with the historic Indians of the St. Johns
area and the Warao of Venezuela Has discussed.