Reevaluating human colonization of the Caribbean using chronometric hygiene and Bayesian modeling.

ABSTRACT: Human settlement of the Caribbean represents the only example in the Americas of peoples colonizing islands that were not visible from surrounding mainland areas or other islands. Unfortunately, many interpretive models have relied on radiocarbon determinations that do not meet standard criteria for reporting because they lack critical information or sufficient provenience, often leading to specious interpretations. We have collated 2484 radiocarbon determinations, assigned them to classes based on chronometric hygiene criteria, and constructed Bayesian colonization models of the acceptable determinations to examine patterns of initial settlement. Colonization estimates for 26 islands indicate that (i) the region was settled in two major population dispersals that likely originated from So

SUBMITTER: Napolitano MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6957329 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature