1958 – 1980: During the mid-20th century, Caribbean archaeologists predominantly classified early material expressions using North American and Old World met…

1958 – 1980: During the mid-20th century, Caribbean archaeologists predominantly classified early material expressions using North American and Old World methodologies. Frameworks established by scholars such as Willey, Phillips, and Rouse became the standard for identifying the “Lithic” and “Archaic” ages. While most modern researchers now recognize that these rigid classification schemes are outmoded, they have been slow to change due to a general lack of interest in the earliest time periods. This reliance on older models has often served to reify simplistic views of indigenous development rather than capturing its true complexity. Consequently, the authors argue for a more flexible approach that better incorporates recent findings from the Greater Antilles.