Human and hutia (Isolobodon portoricensis) interactions in pre-Columbian Hispaniola: The isotopic and morphological evidence

Gene T. Shev; Jason E. Laffoon; Corinne L. Hofman

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102913

Human and hutia (Isolobodon portoricensis) interactions in pre-Columbian Hispaniola: The isotopic and morphological evidence

Gene T. Shev^*, Jason E. Laffoon, Corinne L. Hofman

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

There are certain animal candidates for which researchers have long speculated as having been managed, or possibly domesticated, by indigenous peoples in the pre-Columbian Caribbean, the primary candidate being some members of a group of caviomorph rodents known as hutia (Capromyinae). This study comprises an isotopic and morphological investigation of the potential management of an extinct species endemic to Hispaniola, the Puerto Rican hutia (Isolobodon portoricensis). For comparisons, isotopic analysis was conducted of bone collagen samples examining carbon (∂¹³C_co) and nitrogen (∂¹⁵N) values of I. portoricensis with two other species of endemic hutia, guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), Antillean slider (Trachemys stejnegeri), rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta) and edible rat (Brotomys sp.) from four sites in the Dominican Republic: El Flaco, El Carril, El Cabo and La Entrada. This data was compared to human and dog collagen values available from El Flaco to assess similarities between these groups. Osteometric data was recorded for hutia mandibles, allowing for body mass estimations (n = 230). The findings suggest that some Isolobodon portoricensis specimens possessed carbon (δ¹³C_co) values similar to humans and dogs at El Flaco, possibly associated with the consumption of agriculturally produced maize. This research does not indicate whether domestication or management of this species was occurring, at least not in a systematic way. Concurrence with palaeoenvironmental and zooarchaeological data from the region in which El Flaco and El Carril are located indicate that indigenous agricultural practices may have affected populations of hutia, perhaps by attracting them and supporting them within anthropogenic mosaic landscapes. The data also suggests that some degree of either purposeful feeding or scavenging from human agricultural plots was occurring and supports some degree of commensalism between humans and Puerto Rican hutia at these sites.

Original language	English
Article number	102913
Pages (from-to)	1-16
Number of pages	16
Journal	Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
Volume	37
Early online date	24 Mar 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102913
Publication status	Published - Jun 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
There are no conflicts of interest regarding the financing of this research or in the authoring of this paper. This results of this research form part of the project entitled “Human-animal entanglements on the eve of Columbus’ landfall: a study of indigenous animal husbandry practices in the island of Hispaniola” funded by the NWO PhDs in the Humanities grant (2018–2022). The final form of this paper would not have been possible without the helpful and constructive comments from the anonymous reviewers, so we are graciously indebted to them. Special thanks go to Sr. Juan Almonte and the Museo de Historía Natural, Santo Domingo for assistance in identifying endemic Hispaniolan fauna, to the Museo del Hombre Dominicano and the Ministerio de Cultura, República Dominicana for allowing access to sites and materials. Simone Casale is acknowledged for assistance in the generation of figures. Samples were provided as part of the ERC-Synergy NEXUS1492 project (gr, agreement Nr. 319209), which carried out the excavations at El Flaco and El Carril and which received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme. The El Cabo samples were collected as part of the NWO project Houses for the Living and the Dead (gr. Nr. 360-62-030). Thanks goes to Arq. Juan I. Tineo and the Museo del Hombre Dominicano for inviting the NEXUS team to collaborate in the La Entrada salvage study. All collagen extraction was conducted at the Leiden University Faculty of Archaeology. Thanks goes to Suzan Verdegaal-Warmerdam and the Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, for providing access to their lab facilities.

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) (PhD in the Humanities project PGW.18.015), and the European Research Council (NEXUS1492 project, ERC-Synergy grant: 319209).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s)

Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Funding

There are no conflicts of interest regarding the financing of this research or in the authoring of this paper. This results of this research form part of the project entitled “Human-animal entanglements on the eve of Columbus’ landfall: a study of indigenous animal husbandry practices in the island of Hispaniola” funded by the NWO PhDs in the Humanities grant (2018–2022). The final form of this paper would not have been possible without the helpful and constructive comments from the anonymous reviewers, so we are graciously indebted to them. Special thanks go to Sr. Juan Almonte and the Museo de Historía Natural, Santo Domingo for assistance in identifying endemic Hispaniolan fauna, to the Museo del Hombre Dominicano and the Ministerio de Cultura, República Dominicana for allowing access to sites and materials. Simone Casale is acknowledged for assistance in the generation of figures. Samples were provided as part of the ERC-Synergy NEXUS1492 project (gr, agreement Nr. 319209), which carried out the excavations at El Flaco and El Carril and which received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme. The El Cabo samples were collected as part of the NWO project Houses for the Living and the Dead (gr. Nr. 360-62-030). Thanks goes to Arq. Juan I. Tineo and the Museo del Hombre Dominicano for inviting the NEXUS team to collaborate in the La Entrada salvage study. All collagen extraction was conducted at the Leiden University Faculty of Archaeology. Thanks goes to Suzan Verdegaal-Warmerdam and the Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, for providing access to their lab facilities. This work was supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) (PhD in the Humanities project PGW.18.015), and the European Research Council (NEXUS1492 project, ERC-Synergy grant: 319209).

Funders	Funder number
ERC-Synergy
NWO PhDs in the Humanities	319209
European Research Council	NEXUS1492
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek	PGW.18.015
Seventh Framework Programme

Keywords

Caribbean zooarchaeology
Commensalism
Garden hunting
Isotopic analysis
Osteometrics

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102913

Persistent URL (handle)

Copy link address

Cite this

@article{b04657c47e434593a260ea41ad1b92b0,

title = "Human and hutia (Isolobodon portoricensis) interactions in pre-Columbian Hispaniola: The isotopic and morphological evidence",

abstract = "There are certain animal candidates for which researchers have long speculated as having been managed, or possibly domesticated, by indigenous peoples in the pre-Columbian Caribbean, the primary candidate being some members of a group of caviomorph rodents known as hutia (Capromyinae). This study comprises an isotopic and morphological investigation of the potential management of an extinct species endemic to Hispaniola, the Puerto Rican hutia (Isolobodon portoricensis). For comparisons, isotopic analysis was conducted of bone collagen samples examining carbon (∂13Cco) and nitrogen (∂15N) values of I. portoricensis with two other species of endemic hutia, guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), Antillean slider (Trachemys stejnegeri), rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta) and edible rat (Brotomys sp.) from four sites in the Dominican Republic: El Flaco, El Carril, El Cabo and La Entrada. This data was compared to human and dog collagen values available from El Flaco to assess similarities between these groups. Osteometric data was recorded for hutia mandibles, allowing for body mass estimations (n = 230). The findings suggest that some Isolobodon portoricensis specimens possessed carbon (δ13Cco) values similar to humans and dogs at El Flaco, possibly associated with the consumption of agriculturally produced maize. This research does not indicate whether domestication or management of this species was occurring, at least not in a systematic way. Concurrence with palaeoenvironmental and zooarchaeological data from the region in which El Flaco and El Carril are located indicate that indigenous agricultural practices may have affected populations of hutia, perhaps by attracting them and supporting them within anthropogenic mosaic landscapes. The data also suggests that some degree of either purposeful feeding or scavenging from human agricultural plots was occurring and supports some degree of commensalism between humans and Puerto Rican hutia at these sites.",

keywords = "Caribbean zooarchaeology, Commensalism, Garden hunting, Isotopic analysis, Osteometrics",

author = "Shev, {Gene T.} and Laffoon, {Jason E.} and Hofman, {Corinne L.}",

note = "Funding Information: There are no conflicts of interest regarding the financing of this research or in the authoring of this paper. This results of this research form part of the project entitled “Human-animal entanglements on the eve of Columbus{\textquoteright} landfall: a study of indigenous animal husbandry practices in the island of Hispaniola” funded by the NWO PhDs in the Humanities grant (2018–2022). The final form of this paper would not have been possible without the helpful and constructive comments from the anonymous reviewers, so we are graciously indebted to them. Special thanks go to Sr. Juan Almonte and the Museo de Histor{\'i}a Natural, Santo Domingo for assistance in identifying endemic Hispaniolan fauna, to the Museo del Hombre Dominicano and the Ministerio de Cultura, Rep{\'u}blica Dominicana for allowing access to sites and materials. Simone Casale is acknowledged for assistance in the generation of figures. Samples were provided as part of the ERC-Synergy NEXUS1492 project (gr, agreement Nr. 319209), which carried out the excavations at El Flaco and El Carril and which received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme. The El Cabo samples were collected as part of the NWO project Houses for the Living and the Dead (gr. Nr. 360-62-030). Thanks goes to Arq. Juan I. Tineo and the Museo del Hombre Dominicano for inviting the NEXUS team to collaborate in the La Entrada salvage study. All collagen extraction was conducted at the Leiden University Faculty of Archaeology. Thanks goes to Suzan Verdegaal-Warmerdam and the Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, for providing access to their lab facilities. Funding Information: This work was supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) (PhD in the Humanities project PGW.18.015), and the European Research Council (NEXUS1492 project, ERC-Synergy grant: 319209). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Author(s) Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2021",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102913",

language = "English",

volume = "37",

pages = "1--16",

journal = "Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports",

issn = "2352-409X",

publisher = "Elsevier BV",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Human and hutia (Isolobodon portoricensis) interactions in pre-Columbian Hispaniola

T2 - The isotopic and morphological evidence

AU - Shev, Gene T.

AU - Laffoon, Jason E.

AU - Hofman, Corinne L.

N1 - Funding Information: There are no conflicts of interest regarding the financing of this research or in the authoring of this paper. This results of this research form part of the project entitled “Human-animal entanglements on the eve of Columbus’ landfall: a study of indigenous animal husbandry practices in the island of Hispaniola” funded by the NWO PhDs in the Humanities grant (2018–2022). The final form of this paper would not have been possible without the helpful and constructive comments from the anonymous reviewers, so we are graciously indebted to them. Special thanks go to Sr. Juan Almonte and the Museo de Historía Natural, Santo Domingo for assistance in identifying endemic Hispaniolan fauna, to the Museo del Hombre Dominicano and the Ministerio de Cultura, República Dominicana for allowing access to sites and materials. Simone Casale is acknowledged for assistance in the generation of figures. Samples were provided as part of the ERC-Synergy NEXUS1492 project (gr, agreement Nr. 319209), which carried out the excavations at El Flaco and El Carril and which received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme. The El Cabo samples were collected as part of the NWO project Houses for the Living and the Dead (gr. Nr. 360-62-030). Thanks goes to Arq. Juan I. Tineo and the Museo del Hombre Dominicano for inviting the NEXUS team to collaborate in the La Entrada salvage study. All collagen extraction was conducted at the Leiden University Faculty of Archaeology. Thanks goes to Suzan Verdegaal-Warmerdam and the Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, for providing access to their lab facilities. Funding Information: This work was supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) (PhD in the Humanities project PGW.18.015), and the European Research Council (NEXUS1492 project, ERC-Synergy grant: 319209). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s) Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/6

Y1 - 2021/6

N2 - There are certain animal candidates for which researchers have long speculated as having been managed, or possibly domesticated, by indigenous peoples in the pre-Columbian Caribbean, the primary candidate being some members of a group of caviomorph rodents known as hutia (Capromyinae). This study comprises an isotopic and morphological investigation of the potential management of an extinct species endemic to Hispaniola, the Puerto Rican hutia (Isolobodon portoricensis). For comparisons, isotopic analysis was conducted of bone collagen samples examining carbon (∂13Cco) and nitrogen (∂15N) values of I. portoricensis with two other species of endemic hutia, guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), Antillean slider (Trachemys stejnegeri), rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta) and edible rat (Brotomys sp.) from four sites in the Dominican Republic: El Flaco, El Carril, El Cabo and La Entrada. This data was compared to human and dog collagen values available from El Flaco to assess similarities between these groups. Osteometric data was recorded for hutia mandibles, allowing for body mass estimations (n = 230). The findings suggest that some Isolobodon portoricensis specimens possessed carbon (δ13Cco) values similar to humans and dogs at El Flaco, possibly associated with the consumption of agriculturally produced maize. This research does not indicate whether domestication or management of this species was occurring, at least not in a systematic way. Concurrence with palaeoenvironmental and zooarchaeological data from the region in which El Flaco and El Carril are located indicate that indigenous agricultural practices may have affected populations of hutia, perhaps by attracting them and supporting them within anthropogenic mosaic landscapes. The data also suggests that some degree of either purposeful feeding or scavenging from human agricultural plots was occurring and supports some degree of commensalism between humans and Puerto Rican hutia at these sites.

AB - There are certain animal candidates for which researchers have long speculated as having been managed, or possibly domesticated, by indigenous peoples in the pre-Columbian Caribbean, the primary candidate being some members of a group of caviomorph rodents known as hutia (Capromyinae). This study comprises an isotopic and morphological investigation of the potential management of an extinct species endemic to Hispaniola, the Puerto Rican hutia (Isolobodon portoricensis). For comparisons, isotopic analysis was conducted of bone collagen samples examining carbon (∂13Cco) and nitrogen (∂15N) values of I. portoricensis with two other species of endemic hutia, guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), Antillean slider (Trachemys stejnegeri), rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta) and edible rat (Brotomys sp.) from four sites in the Dominican Republic: El Flaco, El Carril, El Cabo and La Entrada. This data was compared to human and dog collagen values available from El Flaco to assess similarities between these groups. Osteometric data was recorded for hutia mandibles, allowing for body mass estimations (n = 230). The findings suggest that some Isolobodon portoricensis specimens possessed carbon (δ13Cco) values similar to humans and dogs at El Flaco, possibly associated with the consumption of agriculturally produced maize. This research does not indicate whether domestication or management of this species was occurring, at least not in a systematic way. Concurrence with palaeoenvironmental and zooarchaeological data from the region in which El Flaco and El Carril are located indicate that indigenous agricultural practices may have affected populations of hutia, perhaps by attracting them and supporting them within anthropogenic mosaic landscapes. The data also suggests that some degree of either purposeful feeding or scavenging from human agricultural plots was occurring and supports some degree of commensalism between humans and Puerto Rican hutia at these sites.

KW - Caribbean zooarchaeology

KW - Commensalism

KW - Garden hunting

KW - Isotopic analysis

KW - Osteometrics

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103086113&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85103086113&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102913

DO - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102913

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85103086113

SN - 2352-409X

VL - 37

SP - 1

EP - 16

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

M1 - 102913

ER -

Human and hutia (Isolobodon portoricensis) interactions in pre-Columbian Hispaniola: The isotopic and morphological evidence

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Persistent URL (handle)

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this