The conveyance of animal commodities in pre-contact northern Hispaniola: zooarchaeological research and isotopic niche space modelling at El Carril, Dominican Republic (ca. AD 1100–1500)

Zooarchaeological analysis and isotopic niche space modelling of faunal remains excavated from the settlement of El Carril (ca. AD 1100–1500) in the northern Dominican Republic provides evidence that the site was situated along an important transportation corridor for the passage of animal commodities. This study qualitatively investigates faunal remains recovered from sample excavation units within the site and relates these findings to a previously conducted palaeobotanical study of the site. The zooarchaeological findings are compared to that of nearby El Flaco, a smaller settlement located 2.5 km to the east and for which zooarchaeological and palaeobotanical data is available. Isotopic niche space modelling was conducted on animal remains from both sites to relatively indicate different ecological zones that were targeted by Indigenous peoples, and to speculate whether native Isolobodon portoricensis hutias (Capromyinae) were arriving to El Carril from different regions. Our evidence of animal resources arriving from far-flung environments, and the isotopic niche space modelling all suggest that El Carril may been situated near an important transportation corridor for animal goods passing between the coastline, the Cordillera Septentrional, and the riverine environments of the Cibao Valley.