c.

c. 3000 BC – 2000 BC: The settlement patterns of the early Archaic Age in the Lesser Antilles were dictated by a strategic move between specialized resource outposts and more favorable domestic sites. High-quality flint from Antigua was a critical “lifeline” that connected these early maritime pioneers, appearing in virtually all contemporary sites in the northern region. Because the most productive flint quarries were located in areas unsuitable for long-term habitation, the first islanders developed a highly mobile and flexible social system. This period is defined not by accidental discovery, but by a sophisticated understanding of the archipelago’s diverse geology and ecology. Keegan and Hofman emphasize that this strategic movement was essential for the survival and expansion of the Caribbean’s first human populations.