Christopher Columbus got a lot of things wrong about the "New World." He thought that manatees were mermaids, that the Bahamas were a part of Asia and that the indigenous people of the Caribbean were "Indians" eager to submit to their new Christian overlords i.e., himself. (They're not, they aren't, and they definitely weren't.)
One claim in the explorer's diaries that remains particularly contentious even today regards cannibals. According to Columbus, a tribe of invading cannibal warriors aka, the Caniba repeatedly beset his crew and the indigenous communities of the Bahamas when he landed there in 1492. But is there truth to these tales?
While there's no evidence they were cannibals, the Caniba were a real group of South Americans, better known as the Caribs. The group of people from northwest Amazon region are known to have colonized several Caribbean islands beginning around the year A.D. 800, but archaeological evidence suggests they never made it as far north as the Bahamas, where Columbus claims to have encountered them. Either Columbus was wrong again, or historians aren't seeing the full picture of the Carib migration.
Related: Top 5 Misconceptions About Columbus
Now, a new study published Jan. 10 in the journal Scientific Reports suggests Columbus may have been (partially) right after all. By analyzing more than 100 skulls from the Caribbean (plus a few from Florida and Panama) dating between the years 800 and 1542, researchers concluded that the Carib people were indeed present in the Bahamas as early as the year A.D. 1,000 meaning Columbus' descriptions of their raids could have been based in reality.
"I've spent years trying to prove Columbus wrong when he was right: There were Caribs in the northern Caribbean when he arrived," study co-author William Keegan, curator ofCaribbean archaeology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, said in a statement.
In Columbus' accounts, the New World (actually the modern-day Bahamas) was divided between two main populations: the gentle Arawak people, whom Columbus dubbed "the best people in the world," and the fearsome Caniba, who were marauding cannibals. (The English word "cannibal" actually derives from "Caniba," a name Columbus reportedly learned from the Arawaks.)
Archaeological evidence suggests the Carib/Caniba people expanded from the South American mainland as far north as the island of Guadeloupe, about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) south of the Bahamas. However, this evidence is scant, it's mostly based on pottery and may not be telling the full story, the authors of the new study wrote.
To build a more complete picture of the Carib expansion, the researchers analyzed the morphological features of 103 skulls borrowed from Caribbean museum collections, hoping that the similarities and differences could reveal the cultural origins of those people.
Using their skull structure analysis, the team identified three distinct groups of migrants among their sample. According to the researchers, the Caribbean's earliest settlers came from the Yucatn Peninsula in modern-day Mexico around 5000 B.C., migrating into modern-day Cuba and the northern Antilles. Later, Arawaks from what are now Colombia and Venezuela migrated to Puerto Rico between 800 and 200 B.C. (These migrations are supported by stone tools and pottery discovered in previous archaeological studies, the authors wrote.)
Finally, Carib colonists crossed the sea to arrive at the island of Hispaniola (which now houses the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic) around the year A.D. 800, before continuing their expansion into Jamaica and the Bahamas. By the year 1000, violent conflict between Arawaks and Caribs may well have begun.
These findings give credence to Columbus' claims that the Arawaks were often besieged by their aggressive neighbors but what about the cannibalism? According to Keegan, it's possible that the Caribs did occasionally eat the flesh of their enemies to inspire fear, but there's no real evidence of this happening.
Either way, Columbus' reports of cannibalism had a catastrophic impact on Europeans' attitudes toward the Caribbean and its people, Keegan said. While the Spanish monarchy initially planned to treat indigenous groups with respect and pay them for their work, they reversed their position when Columbus claimed the Caribs were flesh-eating heathens who refused to convert to Christianity.
"The crown said, 'Well, if they're going to behave that way, they can be enslaved,'" Keegan said. "All of a sudden, every native person in the entire Caribbean became a Carib as far as the colonists were concerned."
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note that the Yucatn peninsula is in modern-day Mexico in North America, not in South America.
Originally published on Live Science.
Visit link:
Columbus' Claims of Cannibal Raids May Have Been True After All - Livescience.com
- Cruise bound for Bahamas rerouted to Boston because of storm - CBS Boston - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Cruise ship originally headed for Bahamas to stop in Portland due to storm - NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Inside Lionel Richie's Star-Studded 'Dancing on the Sand' Weekend In the Bahamas - PEOPLE - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- 7 Top-Rated Bahamas All-Inclusive Resorts You Should Book - TheTravel - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- December Cruise To Bahamas Rerouted To Canada - Jalopnik - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Alaska Airlines starts flying to the Bahamas from Seattle and Los Angeles - The Points Guy - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- You Can Now Fly Nonstop From Los Angeles to Nassau, The Bahamas - Caribbean Journal - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- THE BAHAMAS AND ALASKA AIRLINES CELEBRATE FIRST-EVER NONSTOP ROUTES CONNECTING WEST ... - Yahoo Finance - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Cruise ship originally en route to Bahamas docks in Boston due to weather - CBS Boston - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Cruise Ship Originally En Route To Bahamas Docks In Boston Due To Weather - Patch - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Alaska Airlines Launches First-Ever Routes to Guatemala and the Bahamas - Business Traveler USA - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Kickin' It With Q: Cowgirls in the Bahamas (E.5) - Oklahoma State Athletics - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas hotel resort review - The Week - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- A Black Girl's Guide To Celebrating Junkanoo In Bahamas - Refinery29 - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- The Bahamas and Alaska Airlines Celebrate First-Ever Nonstop Routes - eTurboNews | eTN - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Live from AMERICANAFEST 2023: Brennen Leigh & Bahamas : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast - NPR - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- World Series of Poker Paradise part of growing sports scene in Bahamas - Fox News - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- TCI young men performing well at Blazer Elite Sports Academy in The Bahamas - Turks and Caicos Sun - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Royal Caribbean Closes In on New Resort in Freeport, Bahamas - Cruise Hive - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Bahamas: Spilligate'23 concert featuring Burna Boy postponed - St Vincent Times - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Snaresbrook Manor is a Luxury Oasis in Governor's Harbour Bahamas - stupidDOPE.com - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- KU falls to Bahamas in rematch, 87-81 - KUsports - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Lindsay Shiver's alleged Bahamas lover downplays plot to kill husband - New York Post - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- 5 Reasons To Visit This Lesser-Known Island In The Bahamas - Travel Off Path - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Ohio or the Bahamas? This kayaking paradise has crystal clear water - 614NOW - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Eric Gordon to reportedly represent Team Bahamas - Eurohoops - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Sebastian Walcott Is the Rangers'and the Bahamas'Future - D Magazine - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- These Are The 10 Best Things To Do On Grand Bahama Island - TheTravel - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- WHAT'S NEW IN THE BAHAMAS IN AUGUST 2023 - PR Newswire - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Deandre Ayton, Kai Jones to rep The Bahamas at Olympic qualifiers ... - Loop News Caribbean - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Reliving the Legend: Michael Jordan's Bahamas Pick-Up Trash-Talk ... - Landon Buford - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- For Mayor Adams, Any Day Has the Makings of Flag Day - The New York Times - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- MAKING HISTORY: 80-member team named for the CARIFTA Games - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Bahamas geography, maps, climate, environment and terrain from Bahamas ... - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Bahamas | Culture, Facts & Travel | - CountryReports - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Bahamas government structure and political parties. - CountryReports - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Is Bahamas a poor country? | - CountryReports - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Bahamas Population and Demographics from Bahamas | - CountryReports - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Bahamas interception of sea-borne Cuban migrants jumps in 2022 - January 17th, 2023 [January 17th, 2023]
- Bahamas national football team - Wikipedia - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- LeBron James Sipped Champagne and Vodka All Night Alongside Katy Perry in Crazy Bahamas Party in 2010 - EssentiallySports - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- Hidden Worlds and The Islands of The Bahamas Bringing Awareness to Ocean Conservation - South Florida Caribbean News - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- 'Smoking a big spliff in the Bahamas': Nick's 10-year plan, and why his 'secret weapon' has him high on life - The Roar - December 23rd, 2022 [December 23rd, 2022]
- SBF's parents visited Bahamas prison where he's in custody - Business Insider - December 18th, 2022 [December 18th, 2022]
- Alex Rodriguez and Jaclyn Cordeiro share Instagram video of their stunning private vacation in the Northeastern Bahamas - Sportskeeda - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- @realGeorgeHotz More Than Just a Polycule in the Bahamas, That's for Sure! - Latest Tweet by Elon Musk - LatestLY - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Bahamas' Attorney General Defends Country's Regulatory Regime Amid FTX 'Debacle' - CoinDesk - November 30th, 2022 [November 30th, 2022]
- Dayton regroups with two home games this week after 0-3 finish in Bahamas - Dayton Daily News - November 30th, 2022 [November 30th, 2022]
- The Bahamas' Club Med Columbus Set To Reopen This Month - TravelPulse - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- UH, U of the Bahamas partner in island sustainability, disaster risk reduction | University of Hawaii System News - University of Hawaii - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Government agencies collaborating to restore East Grand Bahama - Magnetic Media - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Bahamas Welcomes Everyone This Winter - Vax-Before-Travel - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Call for Entries : Development of a Private Island in The Bahamas - ArchDaily - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- VALOR OF THE VANQUISHED: PM tours Lucayans exhibit - EyeWitness News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Henfield: Immigration's shanty town efforts should be sustained - Bahamas Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Rent-to-own housing initiative to provide 50 homes in pilot phase - Bahamas Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- 'Come out and support' the Fight for the Cure - Bahamas Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Turks and Caicos thanks for Bahamas police link - Bahamas Tribune - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Trinidad and Tobago beach soccer teams to play in Bahamas Cup - TT Newsday - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- 'Move the needle': IMF puts Bahamas growth back to 8% - Bahamas Tribune - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Why did 'Renovation Island' stars Bryan and Sarah Baeumler not sell their Bahamas resort? - MEAWW - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- IMMIGRATION TO SEND IN OFFICERS: The Farm reported to have quadrupled in size since Dorian - Bahamas Tribune - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- CBS PROstore goes hands-on with fall workshop - EyeWitness News - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Bahamas Population 2022 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs) - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- WHAT'S NEW IN THE BAHAMAS IN OCTOBER 2022 - PR Newswire - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- These Twin Beachfront Bahamas Mansions Just Hit the Market for $30 Million Each - Robb Report - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Unraveling the Links Between the Bahamas' Junkanoo Festival and Folk Hero John Canoe | History - Smithsonian Magazine - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- The Bahamas PM says the country is in a much better place than 12 months ago, reviewing one year in office - Magnetic Media - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Bahamas Police first to answer call for help, as TCI grapples with deadly gang turf war - Magnetic Media - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- MSC Cruises Seashore to Homeport at Port Canaveral for 2023 Winter Season, Will Sail to Bahamas, Western Caribbean - SpaceCoastDaily.com - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Regressive recession looming, forces UN to issue Cease and Desist message to big countries - Magnetic Media - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- The best 8 places to visit in the Bahamas - Lonely Planet Travel News - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Take 5: What will 399000 buy in the Bahamas, Greece, France, Romania and Carlow? - The Irish Times - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND ANNOUNCES PARTY LIKE A ROYAL NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION AND THE CHAINSMOKERS PERFORMING ON NEW YEAR'S DAY - PR Newswire - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Statement to Update on the Sale of the Grand Lucayan - Magnetic Media - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Another Carnival Cruise Canceled Due to Hurricane Ian - Cruise Hive - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Coup's Notebook Vol. 26: The Toughest Job At Training Camp, Checking In On Nikola Jovi, The Next Developmental Project And Spoelstra In The Lab -... - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Glass Window Bridge envisioned as a symbol of resilience and sustainability says Works and Utilities Minister - Magnetic Media - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- BUT president: Ensure there are sufficient teachers in Family Islands - Bahamas Tribune - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Pitch In For Youth Baseball makes inaugural visit to The Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]