1492 (Legacy): The name “Igneri” was historically used by scholars to distinguish the indigenous inhabitants of the southern Lesser Antilles from their neigh…

1492 (Legacy): The name “Igneri” was historically used by scholars to distinguish the indigenous inhabitants of the southern Lesser Antilles from their neighbors. While Irving Rouse described Igneri as an Arawak language related to Taíno, modern research clarifies that it is actually a non-ethnic name simply meaning “people.” In indigenous mythology, the term referred to a group purportedly defeated by the Island Carib, who claimed to have married Igneri women after conquering the men. Although most modern archaeologists have moved away from the term, some still use it to describe the initial Ceramic Age colonists of the islands. This nomenclature illustrates the difficulty of reconciling historical myths with the actual archaeological record of early migrations.