c.

c. AD 400 – 1000: The Early Ceramic Age was characterized by an economically interdependent network of specialized production centers, such as the bead industries on Montserrat and the celt factories on St. Martin. By analyzing the distribution of production debris versus finished goods, researchers have identified a “social geography” where specific islands held monopolies over certain mineral resources. This specialization allowed autonomous communities to maintain unique roles while participating in a shared regional prestige economy. Keegan and Hofman suggest that the exchange of these unique items served to mediate social relationships and establish group identities across the archipelago. The material wealth found in these early settlements illustrates the sophistication of indigenous maritime trade and social signaling.