Shellfish Collection Practices of the First Inhabitants of Southwestern Puerto Rico: The Effects of Site Type and Paleoenvironment on Habitat Choice

After decades of study, much remains unknown about the foraging practices of the earliest inhabitants of Puerto Rico. Here, we present an analysis of the malacological assemblages of two neighboring and (partially) contemporary early sites from the island's southwest, finding intriguing intersite differences in shellfish collection practices. We attribute this diversity to differences in site type, chronology, or changes in local coastal configuration. This work not only provides insights into prehistoric Puerto Rican foraging dynamics but also demonstrates the importance of considering factors including intra-age chronology, site type, and changes in paleoenvironmental conditions when considering ancient foraging practices.

Automated summary

After decades of study, there are still many unknowns about the foraging practices of the earliest inhabitants of Puerto Rico. In this research, differences in shellfish collection practices between neighboring early sites on the island's southwest were attributed to site type, chronology, or changes in local coastal configuration. This work highlights the importance of considering factors such as intra-age chronology, site type, and changes in paleoenvironmental conditions when studying ancient foraging practices.