2010 (Theory): Establishing a viable new colony across a substantial water crossing involves significant risks, specifically regarding the maintenance of an …

2010 (Theory): Establishing a viable new colony across a substantial water crossing involves significant risks, specifically regarding the maintenance of an adequate spouse pool for small, isolated populations. To overcome these challenges, early Caribbean colonists had to manage “social distance” by assembling social units large enough to sustain themselves. These “lifelines” to parent communities on the mainland or other islands were essential for the long-term survival of the settlement. Without such social connectivity, early island outposts would have faced severe demographic and genetic bottlenecks. This requirement for social articulation shaped the migration patterns and settlement strategies of the first Ceramic Age islanders.