ABSTRACT
The Tutu site is the only known major inland site on St Thomas, USVI, and its setting and topography must have been important factors in selection of the site for settlement. Located at the vortex of two upland tributaries of what, in the past, was probably a continuously flowing water course, the site provided access to a wide variety of terrestrial and marine resources. Among the many favorable attributes of the Tutu setting was the availability of a broad expanse of flat land suitable for establishment of a settlement in which structures were dispersed around a central open area (common ground, cemetery and/or plaza). Other attributes included proximity to fresh water for drinking and bathing, access to large trees for house construction, coastal access via a major water course, adequate rainfall and fertile land (most likely in the nearby mountains and foothills) for gardening, a consistent cooling tradewind, and seclusion from enemies.
