An Interpretation of Guale Hunting Strategy Based on White-tailed Deer Increment Structures

Similarities between the Spanish and Guale diets suggest a creolization of Guale and Spanish cultures, but parallels between animal remains from inside the mission compound and those of Pueblo Santa Catalina de Guale suggest that most of the animal-derived nutrients consumed within the mission compound were obtained by Guale hunters instead of by Spaniards (see chaps. 5 and 6). Guale neophytes were expected to contribute to the economic success of Santa Catalina de Guale and Spanish Florida through tithes of goods and services. This hypothesis is supported by the types of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) elements recovered from the Plaza Complex compared to those from the pueblo (figs. 6.9 and 6.10). If most of the hunting for Mission Santa Catalina de Guale was done by Guale hunters, then the deer remains from the Plaza Complex cocina (Structure 2) should reflect Guale exploitation strategies. Insights into Guale exploitation strategies are found in cementum increments in deer teeth recovered from the cocina. This chapter discusses the age of deer hunted and the season in which they were killed based on data derived from a study of these increments.