2003 – 2013: Modern scholars like L.

2003 – 2013: Modern scholars like L. Antonio Curet and Joshua Torres have questioned the traditional use of the “Taíno chiefdom” model to describe all pre-Columbian Caribbean societies. They argue that this concept can act as a classifying device that obscures local diversity and unique historical contingencies. Instead of a uniform social structure, recent research emphasizes a “mosaic” of cultural expressions and political arrangements across the islands. By focusing on local developments, archaeologists aim to achieve a more nuanced understanding of how different groups managed social power. This shift in perspective moves the field away from rigid colonial categories toward a more accurate representation of indigenous complexity.