Amerindians of the Caribbean
Content
Topic…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
History................................................................................................................................. 3
Appearance ……………………………………………………………………………… 3-4
Entertainment ……………………………………………………………………………… 5
Housing …………………………………………………………………………………… 5-6
Survival (farming and hunting)…………………………………………………………… 6-8
Religion……………………………………………………………………………………. 8
References………………………………………………………………………………… 9
Topic: The Arawak of Guyana, their cultures, land use patterns and their effect on the landscape and biota.
Introduction
The Arawaks are thought to have settled at Hosororo creek on the Aruka River around 3,500 years ago. They planted manioc (manihot esculenta) which they baked into bread on ceramic griddles on the hilltops.
Arawaks occupied the Corentyne River also around 2,000 years ago leaving a unique type of rock engraving, called Timehri Petroglyphs. Due to the amount of rich protein supply found along the coastal swamps, the Arawaks moved hundreds of tons of earth with wooden shovels, in order to build habitation mounds and raised fields for farming. According to Denis Williams this settlement strategy has sustained human population on coastal swamps during the European era and into the present. During the rainy season the Arawaks hunted a lot, when animals were said to migrate from lowlands in search of high ground. Animals commonly hunted were the deer, tapir, labba, wild hog, agouti, birds, parrots and turtles. They were known as food producers, also they are also known for their pottery making skills as they were the first people to bring pottery to Guyana.
The Arawaks have made great contributions to Guyana culture, today many places are named by the Arawaks, most of our rivers and creeks are named by the Arawaks. The Arawak nation is deemed the most intelligent of the Amerindian nations.
Topic…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
History................................................................................................................................. 3
Appearance ……………………………………………………………………………… 3-4
Entertainment ……………………………………………………………………………… 5
Housing …………………………………………………………………………………… 5-6
Survival (farming and hunting)…………………………………………………………… 6-8
Religion……………………………………………………………………………………. 8
References………………………………………………………………………………… 9
Topic: The Arawak of Guyana, their cultures, land use patterns and their effect on the landscape and biota.
Introduction
The Arawaks are thought to have settled at Hosororo creek on the Aruka River around 3,500 years ago. They planted manioc (manihot esculenta) which they baked into bread on ceramic griddles on the hilltops.
Arawaks occupied the Corentyne River also around 2,000 years ago leaving a unique type of rock engraving, called Timehri Petroglyphs. Due to the amount of rich protein supply found along the coastal swamps, the Arawaks moved hundreds of tons of earth with wooden shovels, in order to build habitation mounds and raised fields for farming. According to Denis Williams this settlement strategy has sustained human population on coastal swamps during the European era and into the present. During the rainy season the Arawaks hunted a lot, when animals were said to migrate from lowlands in search of high ground. Animals commonly hunted were the deer, tapir, labba, wild hog, agouti, birds, parrots and turtles. They were known as food producers, also they are also known for their pottery making skills as they were the first people to bring pottery to Guyana.
The Arawaks have made great contributions to Guyana culture, today many places are named by the Arawaks, most of our rivers and creeks are named by the Arawaks. The Arawak nation is deemed the most intelligent of the Amerindian nations.
References: Some notes on the Amerindians of Guyana Then and Now. Compiled by Shebana Daniel Uncle Basil: An Arawak Biography. By Justin Greene- Roesel The Prehistoric Arawak of Guyana. By Jennifer Wishart, Walter Roth Museum The Amerindians and the Europeans. By M.N. Menezes http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=Arawaks+of+Guyana//html accessed December 10, 2012 http://www.google.gy/imgres?q=arawak+smoking+tobaccocigarettes.org/history.html accessed December 10, 2012 http://www.guyana.org/features/guyanastory/chapter2.html accessed December 10, 2012