William Atkins
Sunday, 22 March 2009 21:53
Science -
Biology
Page 2 of 4
The skeletons were exhumed from shallow graves at the site of
La Isabela, the first town known to be established by Europeans in the New World.
At the time during its existence, where is believed to have lasted only five years, the town of La Isabela was considered
“a substantial settlement with a church, public buildings such as a customhouse and storehouse, private dwellings and fortifications.” [UW News]
Of importance to history,
“It is also the only known settlement in America where Columbus actually lived.” [UW News]
The analysis by the Price team involves looking at the tooth enamel of three skeletal remains, from an archaeological dig performed in 1990 in the former church graveyard at La Isabela. The twenty human remains that were found
“… were buried without the formalities of coffins or shrouds.” [UW News]
The TimesOnline article “
Surprising colonists of La Isabela” provides additional details of the 1990 dig and the 2009 analysis.
Dr. Price explains their results,
“This is telling us about where people came from and what they ate as children.” [UW News]
The skeletal remains show that the inhabitants of the village “
were native Taínos, women and children, and possibly individuals of African origin.” [UW News]
The researchers state that if their discovery is confirmed, then it would place the presence of a African population in the New World decades earlier than currently believed.
Page three continues.
