Subject: [Archeology] The Amerindians
Article:

It was not until 3000 BC before the first indians appeared on the coast of the Guyanas. Those indians who arrived between 3000-2000 BC are often called Meso-Indians. Those after 2000 BC are given the name of Neo-Indians. However it is difficult to establish an exact determination of which term to use. The more recent tribes are first the Arawak tribes as they arrived 3000 years ago. A second tribe were the Carai. Archeologists have found pottery decorated with faces of animals and humans. The eyes look similar to a coffee bean and are characteristic for that particular style of pottery. The late pilot Rudi Kappel discovered the 'Hertenrits' or 'deer ridge' where many pottery fragments were found during archeological excavations under the expert guidance of Dr. D.W. Geyskes. 'Avonturen aan de Wilde Kust' shows how the excavations were done and many found fragments and artifacts are shown in pictures. Not much archeology has been conducted especially in the interior of Suriname. Some large earthen pots have been found sometimes in caves. The contents of these earthen pots consisted often of human bones and skulls. Whoever travels along the rivers will come across polishing grooves in the rocky river banks. These were used to sharpen and polish stone axes and arrow heads. The art of ceramic/pottery shows the technique or lack thereof among the Amerindians. Numerous bowls, pots and bowl fragments have been found during excavations. These pot/bowl fragments enable the archeologists to establish a time line of how long the Amerindians stayed at a certain settlement. A particular found kasiri pot for example dates back to a time prior to the arrival of the first Europeans. . -------




Met dank aan Albert Buys