1492 – 1550 (Archaeology): Despite the abundance of Spanish historical accounts from Hispaniola and Cuba, surprisingly few large-scale, systematic archaeolog…

1492 – 1550 (Archaeology): Despite the abundance of Spanish historical accounts from Hispaniola and Cuba, surprisingly few large-scale, systematic archaeological excavations have been conducted at early colonial sites. Significant projects include Kathleen Deagan’s work at En Bas Saline and Puerto Real in Haiti, and La Isabela in the Dominican Republic, as well as more recent research at El Cabo and El Flaco. In Cuba, investigations at El Chorro de Maíta are providing critical data on early colonial practices and indigenous responses to Spanish rule. These studies are essential because written accounts often created a “mindscape” that discouraged archaeological inquiry by suggesting the historical record was already complete.