1983 – 2013: Archaeological research has challenged the long-standing belief that the size of an island was a primary factor in its initial colonization.

1983 – 2013: Archaeological research has challenged the long-standing belief that the size of an island was a primary factor in its initial colonization. Studies indicate that while small islands support fewer terrestrial animals, these species were never a dominant component of pre-Columbian Caribbean diets. Instead, marine productivity was of far greater significance, and many small islands like Saba are located on banks with higher yields than their larger neighbors. Traditional villages typically focused their activities within a 5-kilometer catchment area, a requirement that even an island of five square kilometers could easily meet. These findings explain why many Early Ceramic Age sites are found on islands previously thought to be too small for permanent habitation.