Prehistoric AmericasThe First Civilizations of The Caribbean
Before Christopher Columbus Some ancient
village sites in Caribbean dated as far back as 6000 BC
Earliest evidence in Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico
Island Populations Shell and stone tools
dated 2,000 BC
Bone and shell jewelry dated 800 BC
Three distinct tribes: • Saladoid• Taino• Carib
The Saladoid Originated from
mouth of the Orinoco River in Venezuela
Occupied Trinidad and then the Greater Antilles
Named for origins in Saladero, Venezuela
The Saladoid Introduced pottery,
tools and agriculture to hunter/gatherer tribes
Absorbed most tribes in these areas
Became an integrated community throughout islands
The Taino Saladoid advanced into
Taino culture in 1200 BC
culture on Hispaniola further developed agriculture to include cotton
body painting, piercing and headdresses developed
First to developed gold-copper-silver alloys
The Taino Expert woodworkers and stone carvers
Women had high status as their bloodlines determined chiefs
Created first communal houses, central plazas and ball-courts
The Taino Created their own gods
called Zemis
Zemis encompassed spiritual, cosmic, ancestral and supernatural
They were the tribe first encountered by Christopher Columbus in 1492
The Caribs Late arrivals to the
Caribbean ~1400’s
Colonized the Lesser Antilles
Close trading relations with mainland South America
Developed fishing techniques of hooks, nets and harpoons
The Caribs A more basic society
Less hierarchy, religion and less sophisticated crafts and tools than Taino
Wore jewelry of stone and wood to protect against evil spirits – mabouya
Petroglyphs give evidence to these accounts
The Caribs Accused of cannibalism
by Taino
Allowed Columbus to define the savagery of the natives
Most incorrect impressions and misunderstandings of Amerindians in South and Central America began in the Caribbean.
Prehistoric AmericasThe First Civilizations of The Caribbean