Taíno this is the name by which historians and Archaeologists have called the indigenous population of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the island of Santo Domingo to the English arrived. have been considered as a homogeneous group carries a cultural and artistic expression with a relative ; development.
From the point of view of social structure but observed in Taino society, the lack of a social division into "classes" and had created a hierarchy and differentiation in society.
brought with them farming techniques for the cultivation of cassava and a very peculiar world view. His simple ceremonial centers, stone walls and ground and ball games, are an expression of a domain of space and an architectural concept of some complexity. Their houses were primitive huts called and did not differ much from the mainland.
Tainos came using a number of objects or instruments that met their primary needs. Many of these were for the economy. Although instruments that may seem possessed weapons of war, they employed them in agriculture, hunting and fishing mainly because his nature was not war.
As used instruments are classified into: production tools, household items, weapons and tools related to spiritual activities.
Taino Examples of instruments are: hoe, chisel, ax, knives, archery, barbecues, majadores, among others.
The Tainos were on arrival of the English in the Neolithic period, a term is considered as the phase of the emergence of agriculture and livestock, although the latter was not developed by the Tainos.
agriculture as well as being the main industry and economic power was the latest activity. In communities all social advances that were made were somehow linked to agricultural work.
The Taino developed over time changes in farming techniques that were much more productive agriculture. Some of these techniques were the technique of clearing the lot and irrigation system or irrigation artificial.
slashing technique was used mostly by subtaínos. It was also called burnt forest and clearing. As its name suggests was in limited areas of land burned and then sembly. The ash obtained from the process and hummus served as fertilizer for the soil.
Another technique used by the Taino were the art of the heap, this greatly increased productivity in relation to the clearing technique. Was to form mounds arranged in position and distance for better use and were exploited intensively. On lots varying the amount of stakes that would be planted according to moisture and soil quality.
The latest and most advanced was the technique of the irrigation system, this was based on a very basic channels that brought water to the crops, that agricultural production kept permanently. This technique was used only in places where the rainfall regime was deficient.
The Taino cultivated many foods but among these the most important were the tubers that provided 90% of the consumption of agricultural products. Cassava was the most important food, this is obtained called cassava bread was the staple food for the Taino. Also
cultivated an endless variety of fruits among which are the yams, peppers they used for seasoning, sweet potatoes, taro, sweet potato, leren, guayima or Guayiga, corn, snuff, pineapple varieties baniama, yayama and yayagua, soursop, anon, mamey, peanuts, daughter, Jagua, fig, cohoba, etc.
addition to the Taino agriculture practiced hunting and fishing. Hunting the Tainos gave them a greater variety of foods, plus vitamins, proteins and fats. On the island lived many birds and small mammals such as ischemia, hutia the mochi and the Curies and others. The Taino hunted also reptiles such as iguanas, snakes, alligators and other smaller ones. In relation to hunting the most important tools that were developed were the bow and arrow, spears, etc.
Fishing was the most important activity after agriculture. The Taino developed some tools of production that facilitated this activity as the canoe was made from a single tree and had capacity for 100 people and more.
robel The Taino fishing, mullet, xereles, PARBO, sunfish and golden among species of sea. In addition, fishing in rivers and lakes the lists, guabinas, deha, zagos, diahacas, eels girls and large, and Tethys, prawns, and crabs Hicoteas.
Taino Concept
is the name by which historians and archaeologists have referred to the indigenous population of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the island of Santo Domingo on the arrival of the English . Have been considered as a homogeneous group carries a cultural and artistic expression with a relatively high level of development. The word 'Taino', noble and kind, seems to come from the Arawak language and has been used for all West Indian populations, when in fact associated with indigenous groups who manufactured pottery from Boca Chica southeastern coast of the island of Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico's western and eastern Cuba.
Taino Culture
Taino culture comprised the vast majority of the aboriginal peoples of the West Indies in the historical period before the arrival of Europeans. Culture means a conglomeration of ethnic population of any territorial base, with similar traits in language, social organization, economic development, customs and beliefs.
Tainos occupied the island of Puerto Rico in its entire territory, the English island, except for its northeast; the island of Cuba, with the exception of its west end, much of the surrounding islands and some enclaves in central areas, the island of Jamaica, that as far as is known, was exclusively inhabited by Arawak-Taino, and so the archipelago Bahamas.
The Tainos had reached a stage of development that allowed the existence of the populations of some length. Agriculture was aware of which constituted the economic base on which stood the company and she had developed a whole series of techniques that reflected the level of development of productive forces as the technique of heap, the irrigation system, including others.
is assumed that the Taíno language has araucaco origin, but in the West Indies were forming different dialects. Specifically in English is supposed to be speaking two or more dialects. The Arawak language are still spoken in some South American tribes scattered.
The myth of the extinction of the Tainos
There were several causes contributing to near-extinction of the indigenous (aboriginal) of the island of English. But recent changes in history, the Taino were never all wiped out many survived, thank God, today there are thousands here in Dom Rep in Puerto Rico, and Cuba.
but here are some details of the major massacres, fighting with the English. The genocide committed by the latter against women, children and helpless elderly. Starvation and disease caused by malnutrition, especially in the years 1495-1496, when the Indians refused to till and fled to the mountains with the hope that food shortages would be the conquerors of island. The strenuous physical work in the construction of cities and fortresses, in agriculture and gold mining in rivers and mines. The number of suicides as a form of escape the abuses they suffered at the hands of English. Voluntary abortions to keep their children should live under English rule, and the diseases and epidemics brought from Spain, among which stood out for his devastating smallpox deadly effects.
Customs and traditions
Marriage
The marriage of the Tainos was a very peculiar institution. To make your study is relevant to establish a division between the "marriage in general" and " real marriage, "which is an indicator of the degree of hierarchy exists in that society.
The kind of general marriage "was the couple's marriage, which had a lasting nature, though free from both sides of dissolution.
For a marriage, the chief opened the marriage negotiations, and demanded the presence of a principal to achieve the consent of the father and the father had to give away a gift of food or other products.
In this sense, the marriage took place in an equivalent of the "bride price" and the non-compliance with that agreement led to wars between communities.
A chieftains or kings, for his part he was allowed polygamy, but a wife was considered the principal.
A chief could have more than one wife, as today was composed by a woman and a man.
Kinship
As in all societies at that level of development, the relationship was a fundamental element in the social structure of Taino society.
news chroniclers suggests that the relationship was established through the mother, although the residence was patrilocal, the last to reside women in her husband's unit. This is better understood if we consider the exogamous nature of sexual relations among the Tainos.
Inheritance
Most historians to address both the relationship and the inheritance or descent refer only to the chiefs.
is likely that workers had kinship and descent systems differ.
Overall Taino communities in establishing inheritance matrilineal although a patrilocal system of residence.
Homosexuality
is possible the existence of the phenomenon of homosexuality in Taino society. According to Oviedo male homosexuality was something widespread in the Antilles who is doing the role of women was known for carrying skirt:
And so, having to know that Dell is patient and takes charge of being a woman in that and excommunicated act, then give the office of wife and woman bring skirts.
Migration
Taino
Taino
Taino migration, also called agroalfarero, broke into the West Indies at the beginning of the Christian era. Belonged to the language group Arawak, one of the most popular of America, which he occupied from the West Indies to Paraguay.
brought with them farming techniques for the cultivation of cassava and a very peculiar world view. His simple ceremonial centers, stone walls and ground and ball games, are an expression of a domain of space and an architectural concept of some complexity. Their houses were primitive huts called and did not differ much from the mainland.
Housing
The houses were communal in nature, "extended family", consisting of 20 or more. Given this type of family, homes praises peaceful character
The Indians and describes the size of the houses where they lived. There
opposing positions regarding the form and name of the home of the Tainos, according to their social trait. Authors establish an identification between Caney and hut. They believe that the only difference between the chief's house and other people was the size, they all had circular shape with conical roof and the famous rectangular houses of speaking without giving Oviedo (in which states inhabited by the chiefs and main.
Other authors consider that Caney was the chief's house and gentlemen, which had a rectangular shape, wider than the hut which was the home of the Indians who had no social status to above.
The houses are made of wood and straw, very thin luenga made s as a bell, so high and the low wide narrow, and for many people it can, stop by the top vent through which exit smoke and over trestles or crowns very well engraved.
The homes of the Tainos were adapted to their domestic needs. The trunks of the bases were used to hang the hammocks.
Artistic Manifestations
Its most visible artistic events were varied and expressive ceramics, its cave paintings, between figurative and abstract, and mastery of sculptural work with materials as varied as clay, wood, bone and shell. The stone sculpture is of great variety and technical perfection: human and animal figures, amulets, chest, axes, columns and carvings.
Ceramics
were excellent potters and many pieces are now exhibited in our museums, amazed by their artistic quality. Like the tribes that reached the stage of development and learned and developed Taino pottery as a main craft.
has therefore been established knowledge or the lack of this activity as classification criteria of relevance to other groups who do not know and within their wares to establish differentiation according to level of processing of the artifacts produced .
Hence the talk of cultures ceramics and pre-ceramic cultures which in the Indian context could be identified with cultures that have been termed pre-agricultural and agricultural.
Of the approximately 350,000 aborigines who inhabited the island at the time of the arrival of Christopher Columbus, the majority was of Arawak.
His ancestors came from the coast between the mouth of the Orinoco, in Venezuela, and Guyana.
For centuries, had migrated to the Lesser Antilles to reach Puerto Rico. From there they went, in the fourth century after Christ, "Haiti" or "Tierra Alta". These were the names used by natives to describe the island that Christopher Columbus called the English from its resemblance to the land of Castile.
Los arahuacos, que posteriormente se establecieron en Cuba y Jamaica, eran conocidos con el nombre de taínos. Esta palabra significa “hombre bueno”. Con esto querían decir que no eran caníbales, para de este modo diferenciarse de los indios caribes, que sí lo eran.
Hamaca
Objeto de gran importancia cultural que servía de lecho a los indios antillanos. Tuvo su origen en la selva del Orinoco-Amazónica. Al evitar el contacto con la tierra, la hamaca tenía como función la protección contra alimañas e insectos.
La hamaca era uno de los productos fundamentales de la actividad textil of the Tainos. It was manufactured in the form of network, using cotton as raw material.
Social-Economic System
The Tainos lived in a system in which there was no private property was consumed most of what was produced, and traded products with indigenous residents in Cuba.
was a poorly differentiated society, although it was a political-administrative social hierarchy atop which was the chief. He was a military commander. In addition, directed and distributed production work as occurred.
In 1492 there were five main bosses: Guarionex, who commanded the chiefdom Maguá; Guacanagariz in Marian; Canoabo in Managua; Bohechío in Jaragua, and Cayacoa in Higüey.
Then followed the nitaínos, assistant chief. Then there was the witch doctor, also called behíque or Buhito, who ran the religious ceremonies and cured the sick with medicinal plants. Finally, naborias, who were servants of the cacique.
Workers
There were two types of workers, the first were the common people and social rank seconds (which were the naborias) were the servants
Kacique
The Kacique was the name given by the Indian chief who ruled a particular territorial unit. Within the social structure of Aboriginal society, the chief held the top of the social pyramid, followed by nitaínos or lower-ranking lords.
Originally there were three kinds of Kaciques. The premier referred to a chief who ruled over a single village, the second class referred to a chief who ruled a vast and superior village that influenced and directed to the other and the third class referred to a chief who had complete control of an entire region.
physical terrain ruled by a chieftain of any kind is called Kacikazgo. At the time of discovery of the English island, this was divided into several chiefdoms among them which are noted for their importance and vast grounds: Chiefdoms of Jaragua whose leader was Bohechío, whose leader was Caonabo Maguana, Mary, whose chief was Guacanagarix, Higuey, whose leader was Kayacoa and Maguá, whose leader was Guarionex.
Nitainos
Within the organization of Taino society, the Nitainos was a character who enjoyed high hierarchical position, subordinate only to the chief. The Nitainos was an individual who was serving a certain boss, manage and govern a certain region depends on a chiefdom.
Behique
character who was in charge of religious art, was also wizard or witch and a physician. The behique was necessary within the community and occupied a privileged position in the social structure, located immediately after the chiefs and nitaínos.
this witch features included: organizing the cult, communicate tribal traditions, being a director of the chiefs and educate their children and also heal the sick, which was the most important.
The behiques had a "supernatural power" that made them respectable and feared. For healing purposes, the behiques preparing "magic potions" that they manufactured from herbs and plants.
If a patient died and a relative of the chief or other main tests were done to determine if the behique was guilty of death, by not observing the obligatory fast late. To prove the guilt of behique made two tests:
He nails and hair cut the dead. Powder were made and joined with the juice of a certain plant, was given him by the mouth this potion, to answer the questions put to him about his illness and death. Browse
the dead in a fire covered with dirt and wait to speak ten times. When behique determined the guilt of the relatives of the deceased was beaten until he died or almost died. As behique almost always live out the slaughter of strokes, the Tainos believed that he possessed a kind of snake-shaped cemí who raised him from the blows. Since almost always died behique not beaten, relatives pulled his eyes and testes to ensure the death of this.
The fact of revenge against behiques, was an exclusive right of the chiefs and principal, this reflects the level of the hierarchy of Taino society and the subordination of behique the chief and principal.
naborias
naborias will be identified as the common people, ie the establishment more widespread in society. There are those who cataloged the naborias as a layer of servants, supposedly captive by the Taino groups, conquerors, who presented
Instruments Taino
The Taino developed a range of instruments to meet their needs, which are faithful expression of the stranglehold it had on the nature and character "producer" of its economy.
To facilitate the study of objects that produced the Indians, taking into account its utility we have established the following division:
Instrument Types
Instruments production: As its name implies, were directly related with economic activity. This will include: coa, axes, chisels, hammers or screwdrivers; majadores and mortars, Guayas, bow arrow, spear, canoes, hooks; guariqueten; hibiz; Buren Cibuco, scrapers, nets woven, haversack, Mahes or oars.
Household equipment: This category refers to all the instruments were mainly used by the Amerindians in their daily activities. Hammock, dishes, pots, figs, spoons and trays.
Weapons: The Tainos had little variety of weapons and they were (mostly) closely linked to productive activity as was the case of an ax, bow and arrow, basically. The most important among them is the mace, daggers and knives, sticks and arrows.
instruments related to their spiritual activities : Within this category, we have included:
musical instruments and fun : drums, wooden flutes, clay and shell trumpets sílbalas , rattles, balls.
instruments related to their religious and ceremonial activities : luxury items (necklaces, amulets), duhos; spatulas, luxurious ceramic, wooden plates, inhalers, etc.
Very abundant in the Taino culture, served to the complex religious events, besides being an expression of differences in Taino society (since they only had access to the chiefs and related).
In this type of production can be classified as known by the name of Art.
Coa
The hoe was the fundamental instrument of production in agricultural work of the Indians. It consisted of a sort of thick stick, about the size a man or something less, made of hard wood and the outside was as sharp and hardened by fire.
Oviedo and Las Casas both allude to this instrument when planted describe how the Indians: "And they hit on the ground with that tip stick, emenéanle because more land ...."
Join Instrument connected to farming as a vital means forest clearing, operation necessary before slashing or heap.
Its use could be varied as it used to work on trees and wood for building other tools, etc.
Another use that was given was a weapon of war, but such use was only circumstantial in view of the peaceful nature of the Tainos.
Each canoe is in one piece, or just a tree, which emptied Indian stone ax and these cut enhastadas strike the post.
According to its function can be classified as ceremonial and currents. The first had to belong to a certain sector Taino social hierarchy, which were carved and usually petaloid character.
According to Marcio Veloz Maggiolo found on the island of Santo Domingo the following types of axes:
celt
Mariposoides Axes: They have a narrowing between an edge and another that makes it look like a butterfly. Its size sometimes reaches a foot long and a half wide, and is a very heavy once sleeving.
Dentoides Axes: Made up of a semicircular or nearly circular section, where an elongated stems that resembles a tooth root.
Cuadriculares Axes : Very common in South American and Meso American cultures, and very few in the Greater Antilles
lanceolate and notched axes .
-piece or monolithic axes .
Rods
working instrument, second in importance after the Taino economy ax. However, its use was limited. They were of hard stone. Possibly be used in performing specialized work in court and touch on wood, stone and maybe in bones. Guaranteed use settings general forms of the object if acted upon stone, or performing detail and surface finish, if made of wood.
may chisel work would be undertaken with the help of stone hammers.
5. Scrapers
Used by the Tainos to peel cassava in the preparation of "Cazabí." They were made of shell. Were used in the manufacture of chisels, picks, hooks and ceremonial objects.
6. Graters Guayos or
Instruments used by the Tainos in the manufacture of Cazabi, for grating cassava and other foods. They had the most varied shapes and sizes.
wood The stone is embedded in monolithic basalt rock and the skin was rough fish called libuza attached to a flat stone.
7. Cibuco
Species long sleeve woven palm leaves, used by the Tainos in the production of cassava. It introduced the grated cassava and squeeze and extract the poison.
8. majadores
hard stone objects can be classified into simple and decorated according to their function expression. The single was used in daily use by the Tainos. The sets were used for ceremonial purposes by the chiefs and gentlemen. These were highly polished and decorations could be of a size clause or zoomorphic and anthropomorphic.
As for the shape can be cylindrical, flat wide base and thin handle, handle-shaped figure, topped with mango on the top side, with double figure handle, handle, opposing figures , with a handle hole in the center to form an oval, ovoid circular firing campanoides and mushroom-shaped.
According to this classification Marcio Veloz Maggiolo responds to different levels Taino cultural activity.
majadores The simplest of daily activities were for the of the compound majadores decorated ceremonial and ritual phase.
Both were the same function of mashing, grinding, rubbing or scrubbing. The sets were probably used in the crushing of the elements of the Cohoba.
For the enormous presence of these objects and figurative representation in the West Indies, we can deduce that constituted an important element in religious rituals of the Tainos.
9. BBQ Utensil
Indian has had several interpretations have been considered as a kind of wooden frames to store food.
was also a type of scaffolding used by the Aborigines to scare the birds that threatened the corn harvest.
10. Hammers or screwdrivers
phenomenon were polishing objects that chisels made of very hard rock, almost in its natural state. Possibly the most elaborate they had square or rectangular.
Archaeological evidence proves that these instruments were used to hitting surfaces. Perhaps also used as majadores.
11. Mortars
Objects used by the Amerindians for grinding and preparation of food coloring.
There were two types: fixed and portable.
The fixed : consisted of a sinkhole in the large stones, whose presence at the entrance of leather you can try to use them as living or ceremonial center.
Portables: These can be classified into everyday and ceremonial or ritual purpose.
Bows, arrows and throw darts.
Taíno instruments used by both military activities, and for productive, such as hunting and fishing. In its construction is tough and flexible wood used, a uniform and little knobby. The arrows ending in a bone, fish teeth, bone or wood hardened by fire.
Launchers
instrument used by the Tainos in war activities, hunting and fishing. The name given to this instrument is the result of references made by the writers when they describe, because it is not given a specific name.
Macana
typical weapon used by the Amerindians in their warlike activities. For the manufacture of wood she used dental stalk fire-hardened blade, the sides were keen. Maybe you loved hands clung to since it was very heavy.
Despite warrior look, can not be ruled to be employed in productive activities. It is known that most of the Tainos weapons were used in war as in hunting and fishing.
Musical Instruments
The Taino developed a range of musical instruments used in their festivities, ceremonies or rituals. The instruments they manufactured were:
or atabal drummer.
Mayohabao or Baihabao.
Maraca.
Cascabel.
Whistles and horns made from conch Strombus Gigosos.
wooden flutes, clay or shell.
Ocarinas were usually made of clay.
Whistles and bone.
shell strings that sound when the wearer moved, was used to set the pace.
Gayumbo.
These were generally the main musical instruments of the Tainos.
Mythology
The mythological explanation of reality reflects a state of development of material productive forces mainly characterized by the appearance of agriculture, livestock, pottery, weaving and polishing, which by necessity will be represented at the superstructure.
In the mythology of primitive society was the key superstructural element, mixing steadily, material production activities and social life in general, which was an essential social function, since at the same time maintaining the idea of \u200b\u200bbalance and community order, allowed by their explanations continuity of traditions and beliefs that made possible the cohesion of the tribe.
The Tainos of the English, like all the Neolithic people, were concerned to seek an explanation about the causes and origin of the phenomena of the world. Given that need, created a whole system mythological interpretation based on facts, attributed to ancestors and other mythical characters.
mythological explanations, helped to maintain social structures, such as tribal unity, cooperation, division of labor and the existence of hierarchies.
Taino Economy
Agriculture
The Taino society was, to the English arrived in the Neolithic phase, a term that relates to technology stone, which the Taino built the main useful work before the productive use of metals. Also consider the Neolithic as the time of emergence of agriculture and livestock, although the latter was not developed by the Tainos or by most other Neolithic and Neolithic societies of the Americas due to natural causes such as ecological conditions and the absence of animals domesticated.
's economy was based Taino communities in agriculture, the most important economic activity but still did not use metal working tools to be the most important raw material for polished stone Taino. The
fishing, hunting and gathering were of great importance in the economy Taino. But agriculture was not only the main branch of the economy and power supply, but also the most advanced. The company was stabilized on the basis of agricultural work, and innovation are critical to social progress that occurred, were always somehow linked to agriculture.
The Taino developed changes in farming methods that made agriculture more productive, between these forms of culture are plenty of agricultural techniques and artificial irrigation greatly increased the productivity of earlier systems.
Culture Techniques
Taino agriculture was in a very primitive stage of development, although over the centuries made important progress by beating the original agricultural production conditions of the boondocks of America South. It is shown that the most primitive agriculture is based on land use without modification, an activity that occurs with crude instruments in swamps, estuaries, oasis and other bright spots, this would be the initial phase of agriculture and technology Arawak Basic to the Arawaks who came to the West Indies, and was used universally subtaína at the time was the slashing, burning and felling or forest. Had the advantage of its ability to leverage significant new areas of land, and based on a wider range of crop species for adaptation in various media and increased productivity. This technique takes advantage of the fertilizing effect of ash and humus existing tropical forest areas.
slashing technique has the limitation of depending on seasonal variations, as the moisture needed for crops is easily dissipated after the rainy season, so the crops can only be made to coincide with the rainy season. This process produced the communities that practice this system suffers from severe shortages.
Another important agricultural technique used by the Taino was the heap, hillock or mound of earth that significantly increase productivity in relation to the clearing technique. This technique is to form circular mounds with the topsoil of the land, one to three feet tall and nine to twelve feet in diameter, flat agricultural land, separated from each other by small spaces. The lot has several advantages, keeps the soil moisture, prevent erosion and meet the humus to best advantage.
Among the Tainos, even with the technical innovation of the pile, remained the same tools of production, among the most important are the hoe or stick to remove dirt hardened tip, and the celt for auxiliary work.
piles based agriculture was not used by all the Taino and other communities coexisted with slashing, but the tendency to use was very marked, especially on flat surfaces and with large populations.
The piles were arranged in position and distance for maximum use and therefore were exploited intensively. On each lot was planted a varying amount of stakes, according to land quality and soil moisture, but in any case always in high numbers. This technique allowed the production of bumper crops in small areas. The piles were able to use these yields without irrigation, because it was very appropriate to the Indian climate as it was placed under a stream of air that excludes a long dry season, retaining sufficient moisture for the growing pile of fruits, tubers usually the case.
In regions where the rainfall regime was deficient Taino rudimentary built irrigation canals to maintain permanent agricultural production. These canals were built although no archaeological evidence has been found that indicate the existence of perhaps because of its rudimentary nature. The technique of the irrigation system was more advanced and higher productivity in English.
Crops
Among the crops developed by the Tainos are cassava, which provided the food more importantly, they called cazabí cassava, chillies, the yams (which have not been clearly identified ), sweet potatoes consumed seasoning with pepper, yam, sweet potato, leren, guayima or Guayiga. They also raised corn, cotton, snuff, pumpkins, peanuts, daughter, Jagua, fig, cohoba, etc. Among the fruits were grown pineapple varieties baniama, yayama and yayagua, soursop, sugar apple and the mamey, etc..
Cassava is usually planted with the technique of heap. The seeding was done with great ease since the ground was very soft mounds, a factor that facilitated the growth of cassava and other tubers, finding no such strong resistance on the ground and have enough air favorable. The time of harvest of the product is extended from one to two years and the fruit could remain without damage about three years. The distribution of cassava was made so that practically all year round harvesting the fruit and processed into cassava, taking advantage of ample time to harvest. For times of shortage or other reasons, barbecues stored in appreciable amounts of cassava, cake very resistant to weather and moisture.
Among the tasks necessary for the consumption of cassava, the most important and complex was the preparation of food. Prepared through a cooperative work of many women in various buren cibucanes and several cooking cassava at the same time. Given the speed with which the mass was cooked cassava, five or more could buren feed tens or hundreds of people.
The first step in the preparation of cassava tuber was peeled with the help of shells of shellfish. Later grated fruit with a grater, which was an artifact of small stones framed on the sides and the front with wood. The grating was made on palm leaves, arranged in a special way to take advantage of the mass and the liquid that resulted from the operation. Then left to dry the grated cassava covering of palm leaves, then introduced into a device called cibucam that was sort of a sleeve of woven palm leaves. In the mass cibucam strongly squeezed, twisting for several hours to remove all the poisonous liquid. After this, place the dough in a sieve called hibiz, made of thin canes, to break up the mass cibucam output. Then place the dough and clean, free and slightly damp, on the surface of Buren, which was finally cooked cassava, round, one to two feet in diameter, was placed on several stones around the fire. The cooking of cassava should last about half an hour, fifteen minutes per side. The people who ate cassava was two fingers thick, while the developed to the chiefs was thinner, called xauxau, possibly similar to that currently being prepared. Cassava after being prepared should be left several hours under the sun, and then kept for several days in order to completely losing moisture.
of cassava also obtained, from its poisonous juice, with special processing, a vinegar or soup for lunch and a sweet drink.
tubers They provided an estimated 90% of food from agriculture. But while cassava was the most important, others are cultivated: the yams (which are not clearly identified), were boiled and roasted by the Taino, the sweet, the yahutía, of which the Taino by eating their roots Oviedo leaves, the sweet potato was a variety of cassava sweeter and could be eaten raw, and the Guayiga leren. In the past the Tainos were a kind of bread, according to Las Casas only found in Higuey.
Another food they grew was corn, a grain from which the Taino made bread. Corn tube not so important to the Taino and for other civilizations in the Americas.
The Taino grew peppers, they used to season food, the peanut but provided little food for the Taino. One of the most cultivated fruit was the pineapple, the three varieties were grown at baniama they called, and yayagua yayama. Among the trees Taino planted the soursop, a fruit tree with a heart-shaped green bark, pleasant-tasting white flesh, sweet and cooling, anon, another tree that had white flowers and fruit is very meaty, ¨ fructo these trees is the best This island is in English, is a very good taste and check your round fructo ¨ said Oviedo.
Taino not always used plants for food, this is the case of the annatto tree and fig tree. The first was extracted dye also used it to cover his body with this, macerating the seed, which served as protection against mosquitoes. The fig tree was a hard, round fruit used as container.
supplementary activity to agriculture played by the Taino. Gave them a diversification in their diet, as well as vitamins, proteins and fats.
Upon arrival of the English were not large animal species in the West Indian fauna and hunting was limited to small animals and birds. Hence its relative importance compared to fishing.
Las Casas had a very good meat rabbits. These were of four species, one is called ischemia and were the largest and most hard, the other species was named hutia mochi third, the fourth was called curies, which were very healthy and delicate.
addition to these four species of animals were reptiles such as iguanas and alligators as well as some other smaller ones.
The Taino used for hunting various techniques, one of those sheets that did was burn the animals out of their burrows. They also used traps to catch birds and animals, decoys, missiles, etc.
is possible that dumb dog of the Taino was used as an aid to hunting. The chroniclers say he was a dog small but that did not bark and growl that the Tainos were domesticated.
hunting Regarding the most important tools that were developed were the bow and arrow, spears, etc.
Much of the products of this activity was intended for the chief and other important community figures.
of hunting activities was derived yet domestication of some animals and not being suitable.
Fishing
Fishing was the most important activity after agriculture. Was the cause of Taino settlements in the vicinity of rivers and the sea, to harness this natural resource. The development of this activity is explained by the maritime character of the Taino culture and the natural ecological conditions and the islands of the West Indies which did not provide comparable resources to those who wanted the sea.
The Taino developed a range of production tools that facilitated this activity. One of these instruments was the canoe which were monxilicas, single trunk, while not ruled out the existence of canoes from various parts of trees or bark. Oviedo notes: "Each canoe is in one piece or just a tree which the Indians emptied blows of axes, stone enhastadas, and here is the figure of it, with this cut or ground to strike the suit, i killed the fire, making cuts and bruises as the first, i continue, make a quasi-waist boat craft or trough, but i luenga deep and narrow, thick as big as i suffer the longitude and latitude of the tree that make it, and vnder is flat i do not give keel boats like ours and ships. "
canoes capacity is not well established, but suggests the existence of canoes of various sizes. Small with a capacity of one, five, ten and others with capacity of 100 men and even more.
For fishing techniques were used for sea fishing nets were used preferentially in different sizes according to the depth of the water. Practiced spear fishing in sea and river, mainly at night, attracting fish using light and cegádolos. The Robelo, mullet, xereles, PARBO, sunfish and golden sea species were more important than the Taino fishing.
The methods used in freshwater, we have one that was based on the use of a drug called baygua that killed or stunned the fish when the water poured in facilitating their capture. Among the species of river The Tainos were the lists over fished, guabinas, deha, zagos, diahacas, small and large eels, and Tethys, prawns, and crabs Hicoteas. Fruits Taino
Among fruits and remote from the Taino culture, highlighting some of which the Tainos used as food, seasoning and even face painting. The fruits were an important part of the diet of the Amerindians, reaching some of them transcend their mythology.
In this section the work of the Taino culture talk about the fruit that stood out for use or consumption of them from the Tainos.
Caribbean Pepper
The Caribbean chili was a paramount ingredient in diet Taino. Was used as a condiment in the "soup" made with cassava, fish and meat. Caribbean chili was one of the few fruits grown by the Taino, as the vast majority were taken from wild trees. Caribbean chili was also used as a weapon in war. The Tainos burned quantities of this fruit, so that the smoke would affect the English spicy.
Bija
The seed of the annatto tree, turned to dust, was used by Indians to cover their bodies and avoid getting bitten insects. He also had a ceremonial use, as they covered their daughter to the ball game and to war.
Guanábana
fruit is cold in hot weather and a whole soursop not harmful if a person eats. They are very tasty with a little sour that gives the good taste and is recommended to eat one of two people.
Mamey
This fruit was abundant in the Tiburon Peninsula southwest of what is now Haiti. It is one of the most beautiful trees that can be in the world.
pitajaya
There were two varieties of this species of tuna produced by a cactus, red and yellow. The red was the most delicious and fresh with a bittersweet taste.
Caimito
The leaves of this beautiful fruit were a green side and one from a dry brown and the arrival of the English, the dry side was used by the Tainos to clean their teeth. Also Caimito wood was used by the Tainos to make their bows.
Guava
Guava is one of the three pieces of paper met the religious beliefs of the Tainos. According to these beliefs during the day the dead remained in the caves and night out in the form of bats to eat the fruit.
Jobo
This is another of the benefits associated with the religious ideas of the Tainos. Taino believed that some left the caves during the day and were captured by the sun and turned into a tree which they called jobos or myrobalan, fruit bats also ate at night, making the strongest belief.
Milky
This is one of the few fruits of the English Columbian who has lost his name Taino "Papaya." This fruit is eaten in its natural state, in salads, jellies, juices, and can be used as a meat tenderizer acting as a solvent for proteins.
Uva beach
The sea grape fruit is another lost his Indian name was "were guided." It was a fruit of good eating, but ate little, because its seed is very large. Furthermore, when the English were writing paper was scarce, they took a pin and write in the leaves of sea grape. This is one of the most delicious fruits of the island
is one of the most delicious fruits of the Tainos and can be considered as the tastiest, is like a bag of cream or butter.
Jagua
Like daughter, jagua was used by the Tainos to paint his body, in this case black. The color could not be removed until after fifteen days. Your ink was also used to draw in the caves and to dye cotton fabrics. This fruit was water with which the Tainos were washed when they were tired legs. Because of its odor and strong flavor, the Tainos ate only when they were very hungry jagua and no other alternatives.
Higüero
Although the Taino used it primarily as a container for storing liquid, if necessary also ate the flesh of the fig tree. After he died a Taino family unearthed the bones of the dead and placed in the calabash tree. Besides the Tainos believed that there was a gigantic fig tree was badly hung and fell and then came out so much water that gave rise to the sea. They also believe that the bones contained a fig tree became fish.
Walnut or Walnut Walnut
is edible, though somewhat stodgy therefore be consumed only by necessity. Competing tree wood with mahogany, and was used in carpentry.
Piña
The pineapple was a little fruit on the English island, known in Cuba but very rich and famous in Puerto Rico so daily, pineapples canoes moved from Puerto Rico to the English.
Mammon
The sucker was a fruit known as cachimán or heart, because shape and color resemble a bull's heart. The sucker was ingested natural state and is now used for ice cream and soft drinks. Conclusion
We conclude that the Tainos were excellent potters and many pieces are now exhibited in our museums, amazed by their artistic quality. Like the tribes that reached the stage of development and learned and developed Taino pottery as a main craft.
The Tainos were, at the time of discovery, in a developmental stage that there was "division of labor" by sex and age, and therefore did not establish a division between agricultural activities and crafts.
Although many of the Taíno instruments were not invented by them if they are of great importance because they reflect the level of development and how the Taino engaging the resources of the medium for making tools necessary for their daily activities.
Many of these instruments are in international museum, where they belong. These valuable pieces of our past so people should be in our museums, not in England, where we find the vast majority of these archaeological finds.
0 comments:
Post a Comment