1492 – 1550 (Legacy): Following initial European contact, indigenous potters at sites like En Bas Saline began producing “colono-ware,” a hybrid ceramic style.
1492 – 1550 (Legacy): Following initial European contact, indigenous potters at sites like En Bas Saline began producing “colono-ware,” a hybrid ceramic style. In this tradition, Spanish vessel forms were manufactured using traditional indigenous techniques, reflecting the immediate and practical adaptation of local artisans to the presence of Europeans. Over sixty percent of the artifacts excavated from the upper deposits at En Bas Saline date to this post-contact period. These finds document the rapid material changes that occurred as indigenous societies were incorporated into the burgeoning colonial enterprise. The presence of colono-ware serves as a critical archaeological marker for the early encounter period and the resilience of indigenous manufacturing traditions.