DOCSLIB.ORG

C.N. Dubelaar Petroglyphs in the U.S. Virgin Islands: A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
C.N. Dubelaar Petroglyphs in the U.S. Virgin Islands: A C.N. DUBELAAR PETROGLYPHS IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: A SURVEY HISTORY OF PETROGLYPH INVESTIGATION IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Petroglyphs in the U.S. Virgin Islands have been reported from St. John, Congo Cay, and St. Croix. They have been mentioned and described in various publications. The first investigator to mention them in the literature was the Dane H. West (see, however, De Booy, below), in the late 18th century. West reported the Reef Bay (there called 'Rif Bay') engravings in St. John, and, in conformity with the general practice in the Caribbean at the time, ascribed them to the Caribs (West 1793:327). Half a century afterwards, this same petroglyph site is again reported by John P. Knox, Pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church in St. Thomas (Knox 1852:17). He called the bay 'Kip Bay'. The first person to supply a description of the Reef Bay (now spelled Rifbay) site, with a drawing showing the greater part of the inscriptions, was H.S. Lund, the Danish physician in St. John, who wrote a report to the Société Royale des Antiquaires du Nord, Copenhagen. The inhabitants of the island told him that the Caribs were the makers of the engravings (Lund 1850-1860). Alphonse Pinart, A French traveller studying aboriginal American cultures, visited several of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, and reported their petroglyphs (Pinart 1890). On p. 8 he mentions the Reef Bay engravings of St. John, which in his opinion are similar to those of Puerto Rico. His figs 2 and 4 on Planche 5 present most of the drawings; he has two more than Lund, whose report is referred to by Pinart. Coincidentally, two centuries earlier another Pinart, named John,, made several journeys to the Virgin Islands (Knox 1970:43). The American traveller Frederick Ober visited the Caribbean in 1877 and 1892; he made the latter journey in his capacity of 'Special Commissioner sent by the World's Columbian Exposition to the West Indies'. He describes and pictures most of the Reef Bay petroglyphs (Ober 1893:424; illustrations on 505). Contrary to Pinart, he sees no resemblance to the greater Antilles engravings (Ober 1893-1895:296-297). In 1916 the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, New York, sent the archaeologist Theodoor de Booy to the Danish West Indies (which became the U.S. Virgin Islands in March 1917), for an archaeological survey of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix (October 1916 to February 1917). De Booy wrote a report in 'Indian Notes and Monographs', the organ of the Museum (De Booy 1919). On pp. 48-55 he describes the Reef Bay site, St. John. He interprets one of the drawings, a framed cross, as a representation of the four cardinal points. On pp. 55-59 the inscriptions on Congo Cay (a bare rock N. of St. John) are described; De Booy was the first to report them. In the part of this report that deals with St. Croix he does not mention the engraved ballcourt slabs in this island. Prior to this report, the St. John and Congo Cay engravings were presented to the general public in the Presbyterian weekly 'Forward' (De Booy 1917a). This popular treatise contains an elaborate description of the beautiful site, with clear photographs of its petroglyphs. About the framed cross (our group C no. 1) he writes: "Why the cross? Perhaps the most ingenious explanation is one found in an eariy history of the Danish West Indies, in which the author states that 944 the Spanish monks saw the other carvings on the rocks and deemed them to be the work of the devil ... The Friars carved the sign of the cross on the rocks, thereby neutralizing all other influences" (p. 138). The author rightly mocks the usual unfounded interpretations of Caribbean and South American petroglyph sites as places of human sacrifice, with blood receptacles, etc. He does not doubt that petroglyphs had some meaning, but in his opinion "posteriority will never know the true significance of these rock carvings" (for a similar opinion, see Dubelaar 1986, chapter 8: Interpretation). The Reef Bay engravings which are immediately above the water surface (our group A) are clearly mirrored; most probably this effect was intentionally sought after. This 'mirror" situation also occurs at the Big Spring fountain cave, Anguilla (Dubelaar 1989). At this 21st International Congress of Americanists, The Hague, Netherlands, 1924, the Danish archaeologist Gudmund Hatt read a paper on the archaeology of the Virgin Islands. This was the first occasion on which petroglyphs were reported in St. Croix (Hatt 1924: 36-38; figs. 12-14). In 1941 he published his monumental study: 'Had West Indian rock carvings a religious significance' (Hatt 1941). The question in this title was convincingly answered in the affirmative. The article places his findings in St. John, Congo Cay, and St. Croix in a wider context: the archaeology, anthropology and history of the Greater and Lesser Antilles. At Reef Bay, St. John, he discerns three petroglyph groups: a: the drawings along the pool; b: those higher up, left of a; c: those still higher, above a on the same rock. He observes a difference in style between the first group, where the faces have ring-shaped eyes, and the other two groups, with 'flourishing" figures and faces with pit shaped eyes. Hatt sees a similarity between the b - and c. - groups and some petroglyphs of St. Vincent. He considers the engravings to have been made by Igneri. No settlement remains were found in the near vicinity. The spot was chosen because it was a natural phenomenon of great curiosity, with fresh water all the year round. Maybe the inscriptions fulfilled a function in rain ceremonies (1941:181-184; figs 5 and 6). On Congo Cay Hatt found six engraved faces on the eastern part of the rock. This point is well suited for line fishing. The drawings show a similarity to faces on figured pottery handles found in Taino culture settlements. He sees a connection with cranium cult in Taino culture (180; figs 3 and 4). In St. Croix Hatt found 9 slabs standing upright, four with engravings. The row of slabs was 8 meters long and faced an open space. Behind the row of stones was en elevation, which contained skeletons, pottery, carved heads of corral, and shells. Also three fragments of rock carvings were found, one of them shown in fig. 19. It represents a frog (190-191, figs 13, 16, 19). Hatt interprets the figure on the stone terminating the row on the Southwest as a picture of a pregnant woman: within the body is another figure with the head the opposite way (fig. 15). The last stone to the right (fig. 16) has a hole, which leads to a narrow channel, "about 1 mm. in diameter, passing deep into the stone and no doubt once connected with a funnel-shaped hole bored into the stone from the back" (figs. 17 and 18). It would be possible to pour water through from the back, which would trickle down the front (191-192). In 1960, Frederick W. Sleight, director of the William L Bryant Foundation, made an "Archaeological Reconnaissance of the island of St. John" (Sleight 1962). most ingenious explanation is one found in an early history of the Danish West Indies, in which the author states that the Spanish monks saw the other carvings on the rocks and deemed them to be the work of the devil ... The Friars carved the sign of the cross on the rocks, thereby neutralizing all other influences" (p. 138). The author rightly mocks the usual unfounded interpretations of Caribbean and South American petroglyph sites as places of human sacrifice, with blood receptacles, etc. He does not doubt that petroglyphs had some meaning, but in his opinion "posteriority will never know the true significance of these rock carvings" (for a similar opinion, see Dubelaar 1986, chapter 8: Interpretation). The Reef Bay engravings which are immediately above the water surface (our group A) are clearly mirrored; most probably this effect was intentionally sought after. This 'mirror' situation also occurs at the Big Spring fountain cave, Anguilla (Dubelaar 1989). At this 21st International Congress of Americanists, The Hague, Netherlands, 1924, the Danish archaeologist Gudmund Hatt read a paper on the archaeology of the Virgin Islands. This was the first occasion on which petroglyphs were reported in St. Croix (Hatt 1924: 36-38; figs. 12-14). In 1941 he published his monumental study: 'Had West Indian rock carvings a religious significance' (Hatt 1941). The question in this title was convincingly answered in the affirmative. The article places his findings in St. John, Congo Cay, and St. Croix in a wider context: the archaeology, anthropology»and history of the Greater and Lesser Antilles. At Reef Bay, St. John, he discerns three petroglyph groups: a: the drawings along the pool; b: those higher up, left of a; c: those still higher, above a on the same rock. He observes a difference in style between the first group, where the faces have ring-shaped eyes, and the other two groups, with 'flourishing" figures and faces with pit shaped eyes. Hatt sees a similarity between the b - and c. - groups and some petroglyphs of St. Vincent. He considers the engravings to have been made by Igneri. No settlement remains were found in the near vicinity. The spot was chosen because it was a natural phenomenon of great curiosity, with fresh water all the year round. Maybe the inscriptions fulfilled a function in rain ceremonies (1941:181-184; figs 5 and 6).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Surface Currents Near the Greater and Lesser Antilles
    SURFACE CURRENTS NEAR THE GREATER AND LESSER ANTILLES by C.P. DUNCAN rl, S.G. SCHLADOW1'1 and W.G. WILLIAMS SUMMARY The surface flow around the Greater and Lesser Antilles is shown to differ considerably from the widely accepted current system composed of the Caribbean Current and Antilles Current. The most prominent features deduced from dynamic topography are a flow from the north into the Caribbean near Puerto Rico and a permanent eastward-flowing counter-current in the Caribbean itself between Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Noticeably absent is the Antilles Current. A satellite-tracked buoy substantiates the slow southward flow into the Caribbean and the absence of the Antilles Current. INTRODUCTION Pilot Charts for the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea (Defense Mapping Agency, 1968) show westerly surface currents to the North and South of Puerto Rico. The Caribbean Current is presented as an uninterrupted flow which passes through the Caribbean Sea, Yucatan Straits, Gulf of Mexico, and Florida Straits to become the Gulf Stream. It is joined off the east coast of Florida by the Antilles Current which is shown as flowing westwards along the north coast of Puerto Rico and then north-westerly along the northern edge of the Bahamas (BOISVERT, 1967). These surface currents are depicted as extensions of the North Equatorial Current and the Guyana Current, and as forming part of the subtropical gyre. As might be expected in the absence of a western boundary, the flow is slow-moving, shallow and broad. This interpretation of the surface currents is also presented by WUST (1964) who employs the same set of ship’s drift observations as are used in the Pilot Charts.
    [Show full text]
  • Paleogeography of the Caribbean Region: Implications for Cenozoic Biogeography
    PALEOGEOGRAPHY OF THE CARIBBEAN REGION: IMPLICATIONS FOR CENOZOIC BIOGEOGRAPHY MANUEL A. ITURRALDE-VINENT Research Associate, Department of Mammalogy American Museum of Natural History Curator, Geology and Paleontology Group Museo Nacional de Historia Natural Obispo #61, Plaza de Armas, CH-10100, Cuba R.D.E. MA~PHEE Chairman and Curator, Department of Mammalogy American Museum of Natural History BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Number 238, 95 pages, 22 figures, 2 appendices Issued April 28, 1999 Price: $10.60 a copy Copyright O American Museum of Natural History 1999 ISSN 0003-0090 CONTENTS Abstract ....................................................................... 3 Resumen ....................................................................... 4 Resumo ........................................................................ 5 Introduction .................................................................... 6 Acknowledgments ............................................................ 8 Abbreviations ................................................................ 9 Statement of Problem and Methods ............................................... 9 Paleogeography of the Caribbean Region: Evidence and Analysis .................. 18 Early Middle Jurassic to Late Eocene Paleogeography .......................... 18 Latest Eocene to Middle Miocene Paleogeography .............................. 27 Eocene-Oligocene Transition (35±33 Ma) .................................... 27 Late Oligocene (27±25 Ma) ...............................................
    [Show full text]
  • Thematic Report for the Insular Caribbean Sub-Region
    CLME-TT/3 Prov Barbados, February 2007 Original: English THEMATIC REPORT FOR THE INSULAR CARIBBEAN SUB-REGION A discussion paper for the CLME Synthesis Workshop by Sherry Heileman, Ph.D. CLME Project Implementation Unit Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Barbados February 2007 Insular Caribbean - CLME Thematic report CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 2. THE INSULAR CARIBBEAN .......................................................................................................... 1 Geography and oceanography ................................................................................................................... 1 Ecological features..................................................................................................................................... 3 Socio-economic background...................................................................................................................... 5 2.4 Environmental and socio-economic vulnerability of SIDS ................................................................. 6 3. PRIORITY TRANSBOUNDARY PROBLEMS.............................................................................. 7 3.1 Unsustainable exploitation of living marine resources ........................................................................ 8 3.1.1 Description of the problem and justification
    [Show full text]
  • Shipwrecks of St. John: ECU Investigations of Submerged Cultural Resources in the U.S
    Research Report No. 16 Shipwrecks of St. John: ECU Investigations of Submerged Cultural Resources in the U.S. Virgin Islands National Park, 2002 Bradley A. Rodgers, Frank Cantelas, Nathan Richards, Annalies Corbin, Erica Seltzer, Andrew Pietruszka, Keith Meverden, Sami Seeb, and Andrew Weir Program in Maritime Studies East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina Primary Investigators: Bradley A. Rodgers, Annalies Corbin, and Frank J. Cantelas 2006 Research Report No. 16 Shipwrecks of St. John: ECU Investigations of Submerged Cultural Resources in the U.S. Virgin Islands National Park, 2002 Bradley A. Rodgers, Frank Cantelas, Nathan Richards, Annalies Corbin, Erica Seltzer, Andrew Pietruszka, Keith Meverden, Sami Seeb, and Andrew Weir © 2006 by the Program in Maritime Studies, East Carolina University, Admiral Ernest M. Eller House, Greenville, North Carolina 27858. Nathan Richards, series editor. Printed in the United States of America. ISBN 0-9741937-7-1 (Volume 16) Cover: Heather White and Andy Weir working on the Leinster Bay site, 2002. Contents Contents . iii Illustrations . v Tables . viii Abstract . ix Acknowledgements . ix 1. Introduction . 1 2. Project Location and Environment . 3 3. Historical Background. 9 4. Previous Maritime Archaeological Investigations in the U.S.V.I. 27 5. Methodology . 33 6. Description of Findings . 39 7. Conclusion . 87 References Cited. 91 iii Illustrations Figure 1. Location of the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Program in Maritime Studies, 2002) . 4 Figure 2. Map of Coral Bay Harbor, by Anders So/rensen Diinsen, 1720 (Low and Valls 1985: frontispiece) . 10 Figure 3. Undated French naval chart of Coral Bay (believed to be pre 1789) (Low and Valls 1985: 9).
    [Show full text]
  • Preliminary Geologic Map of the Greater Antilles and the Virgin Islands
    Preliminary Geologic Map of the Greater Antilles and the Virgin Islands By Frederic H. Wilson, Greta Orris, and Floyd Gray Pamphlet to accompany Open-File Report 2019–1036 2019 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DAVID BERNHARDT, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey James F. Reilly II, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2019 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit https://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https://store.usgs.gov. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: Wilson, F.H., Orris, G., and Gray, F., 2019, Preliminary geologic map of the Greater Antilles and the Virgin Islands: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2019–1036, pamphlet 50 p., 2 sheets, scales 1:2,500,000 and 1:300,000, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191036. ISSN 2331-1258 (online) Contents Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Geologic Summary.........................................................................................................................................1
    [Show full text]
  • Christiansted National Historic Site AND/OR HISTORIC: Wharf Area, Christiansted
    3- Form 10-306 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Oct. 1972) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES St. Croix INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY FOR FEDERAL PROPERTIES ENTRY DATE (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) COMMON: Christiansted National Historic Site AND/OR HISTORIC: Wharf Area, Christiansted STREET AND NUMBER: Christiansted National Historic Site CITY OR TOWN: ___Christiansted. St. Croix STATE: CODE Virgin Islands 078 CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS ACCESSIBLE (Check One) TO THE PUBLIC District Q Building (31 Public Public Acquisition: Occupied Yes: Sit* Q Structure Q Private Q In Process f~1 Unoccupied O Restricted 0 Object Cl Both ( I Being Considered (~1 Preservation work 2] Unrestricted In progress QNo PRESENT USE (Check One or Man a* Appropriate; O Agricultural Government I I Transportation Q Comments [ | Commercial Industrial [~1 Private Residence Q Other (Spicily) C] Educational ilitary [~) Religious |~1 Entertainment X I Museum I I Scientific National Park Service REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS: (II applicable) STRBET AND NUMBER: Southeast Region 1895 Phoenix Boulevard CITY ON TOWN: STATE: COD* M Atlanta Georgia 30349 13 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Registry of Deeds, Government House STREET AND NUMBER! King Street CITY OR TOWN: Christiansted, St. Croix Virgin Islands 078 TITLE OF SURVEY:: Fort Christiansvaern, Scale House, Steeple Building, Old Customs House, Histnrir American *--- - -- - *» DATE OF SURVEY, 1957-1Q61 QJ Federal County O Local DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS:
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 4. STATUS of CARIBBEAN CORAL REEFS PHOTO: KRISHNA DESAI
    Chapter 4. STATUS OF CARIBBEAN CORAL REEFS PHOTO: KRISHNA DESAI oral reefs in the Caribbean have undergone massive Chapter 3 examined threats to Caribbean coral reefs, Cchanges over the past several decades87 as they evolved on a region-wide, threat-by-threat basis. This chapter exam- from a coral-dominated to an algal-dominated state.88 ines these threats, along with available information on con- Evidence of decline is widespread. Surveys conducted dition and protection of reefs, in greater geographic detail between 1998 and 2000 under the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid for nine Caribbean sub-regions. (See Map 10.) Figure 3 pro- Reef Assessment (AGRRA - see Appendix C) found coral dis- vides a summary by sub-region of reef area and the Reefs at eases throughout most of the Wider Caribbean, with very Risk Threat Index. More detailed country profiles—includ- few areas exhibiting no occurrences.89 AGRRA surveys ing information on status of, threats to, and protection of reported few sightings of large-bodied snappers and coral reefs for 35 Caribbean countries and territories—are groupers, and Reef Check surveys recorded an absence of available online at http://reefsatrisk.wri.org. Nassau Groupers in over 80 percent of the sites surveyed across the region.90 They were once among the commonest MAP 10. CARIBBEAN SUB-REGIONS fishes of the Caribbean. This strongly suggests the entire region is overfished for many heavily targeted species.91 Reef Check surveys have also identified sewage pollution as a problem in nearly one-quarter of sites surveyed since 1998.92 Monitoring of live coral cover by the Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity Program (CARICOMP – see Appendix C) between 1993 and 2001 found declines in live coral on nearly two-thirds of sites for which time series data were available.93 However, the AGRRA program found a mean live coral cover of 26 percent on sites around 10 m depth, suggesting that despite significant loss from many large-scale disturbances, considerable coral remains.94 REEFS AT RISK IN THE CARIBBEAN 41 FIGURE 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Caribbean Landscapes and Their Biodiversity
    CARIBBEAN LANDSCAPES AND THEIR BIODIVERSITY Ariel E. Lugo, Eileen H. Helmer and Eugenio Santiago Valentín SUMMARY Both the biodiversity and the landscapes of the Caribbean forests, and built up land. Recent land cover changes from ag- have been greatly modified as a consequence of human activity. ricultural to urban cover have allowed for the proliferation of In this essay we provide an overview of the natural landscapes novel forests, where introduced plant species have naturalized and biodiversity of the Caribbean and discuss how human ac- and play important ecological roles that appear compatible with tivity has affected both. Our Caribbean geographic focus is on native and endemic flora. the insular Caribbean and the biodiversity focus is on the flora, PAISAJES CARIBEÑOS Y SU DIODIVERSIDAD Ariel E. Lugo, Eileen H. Helmer y Eugenio Santiago Valentín RESUMEN Tanto la biodiversidad como los paisajes del Caribe han diversidad es la flora, bosques y tierras construidas. Cambios sido extensamente modificados como consecuencia de la activi- recientes en la cobertura de las tierras, de cobertura agrícola a dad humana. En este ensayo se presenta una visión global de urbana, han permitido la proliferación de nuevos bosques, don- los paisajes naturales y la biodiversidad del Caribe y se dis- de las especies de plantas introducidas se han naturalizado y cute cómo la actividad humana ha modificado a ambos. Nues- juegan importantes papeles ecológicos que parecen compatibles tro enfoque caribeño es en el Caribe insular y el foco sobre la con la flora nativa y endémica. Introduction masses, is defined in a vari- watersheds draining into the Greater Antilles, the Lesser ety of ways.
    [Show full text]
  • The Caribbean Epidemiological Network: the Complexities of Developing a Regional Perspective
    The Caribbean epidemiological network: the complexities of developing a regional perspective K.-G. DOUGLAS Project Director, Drug Abuse Project, Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, Trinidad and Tobago J. HILLEBRAND Epidemiology Adviser, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna ABSTRACT The present article describes the geographical, political and cultural difficulties involved in developing a regional drug abuse epidemiological network in the Caribbean. Earlier initiatives such as the Caribbean Community Epidemiology Task Force failed owing to a lack of resources. It was not until 1996 that a major success was achieved, when the Plan of Action for Drug Control Coordination and Cooperation in the Caribbean laid the groundwork for the establishment of a comprehensive and sus- tainable effort to control substance abuse in the region through drug demand reduc- tion. In 1997, the Santo Domingo Declaration against Drugs reinforced the recom- mendation of the Barbados Plan of Action and called for the timely implementation of an epidemiological system for substance abuse. Subsequently, member States of the Caribbean Community allocated resources to the Drug Abuse Epidemiological and Surveillance System Project, which is being implemented by the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre. Within the framework of the project, the Caribbean Drug Information Network was launched in 2001; this concentrates on institution-building, training and the development of practical expertise in survey research. In order for the Network to continue its work, it will need further political support, adequate funding and the ability to link its activities to other aspects of demand reduction. Keywords: Caribbean; drug abuse; demand reduction; epidemiology network; regional initiative. Introduction Features of the sector The Caribbean region has a total land area of 700,000 sq km and comprises a number of islands, including those in the Caribbean Sea, along with the Guianas (Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname).
    [Show full text]
  • APPENDICES Appendix A. Islands of the West Indies A.I. Greater Antilles
    APPENDICES Appendix A. Islands of the West Indies Caribbean: The Charibee; French : La Mer des Caraibes; Spanish : Mare de las Antillas West Indies: French: Les Antilles; Spanish: Las Antillas; German: Westindischen Inseln Greater Antilles : French: Les Grandes Antilles; Spanish : Antillas Mayores; German: Die Große ren Antillen Lesser Antilles: French: Les Petites Antilles; Spanish: Antillas Manores; German : Die Kleineren Antillen Leeward Islands : French: Les lles Sous-le-Vent; Spanish: Islas de Sotavento Wind ward Islands: French: Les lles Sur-le-Vent; Spanish: Islas de Barlovento The left column contains the islands and in brackets with some of their smaller islands. The right column lists the country or political association. Arehaie or alternate names found in the sources are listed here in brackets. During the early history of the Caribbean, islands were sometimes called by the name of the principal settlement as with San Juan for Puerto Rico, Road Town for Tortola, Bassin (an early name for Christiansted) for Saint Croix, or St. John 's for Antigua. This last may have precipitated Saint John in the U.S. Virgin Islands sometimes being mistaken for Antigua or vice versa. A.I. Greater Antilles Cuba Repüblica de Cuba [Isla de la Juventud (lsle of Pines), Archipielago de Camagüey, Archipielago de Sabana, Cayos de San Filipe, Archipielago de los Canarreos, Archipielago de los Colorodos, Jardines de la Reina] Jamaica Jamaica [Pigeon Island, Morant Cays] [La Jamai"gue, Jamaika, Jamaco] Haiti (western Hispaniola) Republique d'Hai'ti [Ile de la Tortue, Ile Pierre-Joseph, Ile de la [Hayti, Santo Domingo, Saint­ Gonäve, Grande Cayemite, Ile ä Vache] Domingue, Hispaniola, Espafiola] Dominican Republic (eastern Hispaniola) Repüblica Dominicana [Isla Beata, Isla Catalina, Isla Saona] [Santo Domingo, Saint-Domingue, Haiti, Hispaniola, Espafiola] Puerto Rico Commonwealth ofPuerto Rico (U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • The Caribbean F
    The Caribbean and its relations with Latin America and the European Union Paris, 1st June 2017 Round Table 2 – The Caribbean facing changes in the international scene "The Caribbean dilemma: where to position itself in the world chessboard?" Aldo Dell'Ariccia Head of Division Central America, Mexico and Caribbean European External Action Service 1. The definition of the object The term Caribbean can cover different geographical areas depending on the angle adopted. It can refer to the "Caribbean Basin" area, which had a crucial strategic importance during the cold war and which covers a vast area including the States of Texas and Florida, Mexico and Central America (including El Salvador, which does not have a Caribbean coastline), Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam and Guyane) and the whole arch of islands, from Trinidad and Tobago to Cuba and the Bahamas. There is then the denomination of Antilles, with the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola -Haiti and Dominican Republic- and the Cayman Islands) and the Lesser Antilles (Leeward and Windward Islands) with Bahamas and Turks and Caicos…Within this broad Caribbean, we have the presence also of the US, France, the UK and the Netherlands. In addition, numerous international and regional organisations are represented in the area. (Two images to present the complexity of the situation, courtesy of Wikipedia) So, for the purpose of my presentation, I shall limit myself to the area which is actually covered by the Division for which I am responsible in the EEAS. This area includes the Caribbean Community's (or CARICOM's) 14 member States plus the Dominican Republic and Cuba, i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • FLORA of ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS By
    1 Extracted from: FLORA OF ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS by PEDRO ACEVEDO­RODRÍGUEZ AND COLLABORATORS (MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN: 78: 1­581. 1996.) INTRODUCTION The island of St. John, formerly known as St. Jan, (Map 1), belongs to the Virgin Island group, a natural appendage of the Puerto Rican bank. The islands making up the Virgin Islands group (St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and St. Croix) and Puerto Rico (Vieques, Culebra and Puerto Rico) form a geographical, geological, and biological province with many shared natural features. St. John, like most of the other Virgin Islands has a mountainous topography with very small inter mountain valleys and coastal plains. The island has an approximate area of 31 square kilometers, with an east­west axis of 11 kilometers, and a maximum north­south axis of approximately 5 kilometers. The highest point on the island is Bordeaux Mountain which reaches 387 m in elevation. The island has no permanent rivers and possesses only a few intermittent streams, which either flow toward the north or south coasts. For the most part, the soil is volcanic in origin and well­drained, with depths to bedrock ranging from 25 to 50 cm. Columbus discovered and named the Virgin Islands on his second trip to the New World in 1493. On November 14th, Columbus and his crew anchored on an island which he named Santa Cruz (St. Croix later by the French). They found the island to be inhabited by Carib Indians, but they did not record how densely populated the island was.
    [Show full text]