2017 (Theory): Keegan and Hofman argue that the “Classic Taíno” culture was not a static entity but a dynamic social system that was still expanding and evol…

2017 (Theory): Keegan and Hofman argue that the “Classic Taíno” culture was not a static entity but a dynamic social system that was still expanding and evolving at the time of European contact. They point to the settlement of the Bahamas and the increasing complexity of sites in Cuba as evidence of a “frontier” mentality where indigenous groups continuously adapted to new environments. The authors suggest that the political structures encountered by the Spanish—such as the powerful chiefdoms of Hispaniola—were the result of long-term regional integration and the management of diverse ecological zones. This perspective emphasizes the agency and resilience of indigenous societies across the “Antillean bridge.”