Cultures Colliding: How the Columbian Exchange and Spanish Encomienda System Influenced Breastfeeding and Weaning Practices at El Chorro de Maíta, Cuba (ca. 1300–1550 CE)

Breastfeeding and weaning practices (BWPs) have always been closely intertwined with cultural and religious practices. Following the arrival of the Spaniards in Cuba (1492 CE), the indigenous Taíno were quickly introduced to new foods, diseases, and above all, Christianity. This influx of exchange between the Old World and the New World, known as the Columbian Exchange, was not the only thing that changed for the Cuban Taíno, as so-called encomiendas were established around the island, where the indigenous people were forced to work for the Spanish oppressors. One of the towns where encomiendado laborers lived when they were not working for the Spaniards is known today as El Chorro de Maíta, an archaeological site located in the northeastern Cuban municipality of Holguín. As this town had a habitation history preceding the arrival of the Spaniards and continuing into the early colonial period (ca. 1300–1550 CE), it is an archaeological goldmine to study the impact of colonialism on...Show moreBreastfeeding and weaning practices (BWPs) have always been closely intertwined with cultural and religious practices. Following the arrival of the Spaniards in Cuba (1492 CE), the indigenous Taíno were quickly introduced to new foods, diseases, and above all, Christianity. This influx of exchange between the Old World and the New World, known as the Columbian Exchange, was not the only thing that changed for the Cuban Taíno, as so-called encomiendas were established around the island, where the indigenous people were forced to work for the Spanish oppressors. One of the towns where encomiendado laborers lived when they were not working for the Spaniards is known today as El Chorro de Maíta, an archaeological site located in the northeastern Cuban municipality of Holguín. As this town had a habitation history preceding the arrival of the Spaniards and continuing into the early colonial period (ca. 1300–1550 CE), it is an archaeological goldmine to study the impact of colonialism on the indigenous Cuban Taíno. In this thesis, I aimed to study if and how the Columbian Exchange and encomienda system influenced BWPs at Chorro de Maíta though incremental stable carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotope analysis of dentine collagen and bioapatite, as well as test three new incremental sampling techniques. To reconstruct BWPs at Chorro de Maíta, permanent first molars (M1s) of 38 individuals, as well as two permanent second molars (M2) and two deciduous second molars (dM2), were incrementally sampled for collagen nitrogen and carbon analysis. The molars were thin-sectioned and incrementally sampled from the enamel dentine junction (EDJ) to the apex of the root using a biopsy punch with a plunger. Additionally, seven of these M1s were also sampled for bioapatite carbon and oxygen analysis using a handheld drill and a MicroMill2. The results of the collagen and bioapatite analysis indicated that all three methodologies are well-suited for BWP studies, with advantages and disadvantages for each methodology. The statistical analysis of the isotope results from this study indicated that there were no significant correlations between the distribution of BWPs and the studied biological and mortuary traits. It did, however, indicate that there was a statistically significant correlation between mean weaning ages (WAs) and both deposition and cranial modifications, two traits that have been connected to pre- and post-contact practices. Although it was not possible to definitively say whether there was a direct correlation between the introduction of the encomienda system and BWPs at Chorro de Maíta based on these results alone, there were some additional observations related to age-at-death and depositions that suggest there might have been a shift to shorter breastfeeding during the colonial period. However, future inclusion of ancient DNA analysis of the individuals included in this study could provide more information regarding these observations.Show less

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Cultures Colliding: How the Columbian Exchange and Spanish Encomienda System Influenced Breastfeeding and Weaning Practices at El Chorro de Maíta, Cuba (ca. 1300–1550 CE)