1492 (Legacy): Spanish chroniclers identified seventeen primary regional chiefs in Puerto Rico, each associated with a major river drainage system on the isl…

1492 (Legacy): Spanish chroniclers identified seventeen primary regional chiefs in Puerto Rico, each associated with a major river drainage system on the island. These regional leaders were supported by village headmen who managed local affairs within their respective territories. While Hispaniola featured a higher ordering of political power, the structure in Puerto Rico appears to have been more decentralized. The persistence of numerous ceremonial centers suggests a “heterarchical” political organization where power was distributed among various lineages. This administrative map, recorded by early Europeans, provides a snapshot of the complex indigenous political landscape at the time of contact.