c. AD 1000 – 1500: During the Late Ceramic Age, the northern Lesser Antilles saw a decrease in the number and size of settlements, mirroring a pattern also observed in Puerto Rico.

c. AD 1000 – 1500: During the Late Ceramic Age, the northern Lesser Antilles saw a decrease in the number and size of settlements, mirroring a pattern also observed in Puerto Rico. Many communities began to favor remote or protected site locations, suggesting a potential discontinuity in social structure or a response to regional pressures. Material culture from this period reveals significant “esoteric interaction” with the Greater Antilles, indicating that Lesser Antillean groups were being integrated into larger sociopolitical and ideological spheres. This process of regional integration likely disrupted the independent development of local communities, marking the onset of significant sociopolitical changes. The shift toward more secluded settlements may reflect a strategic adaptation to these broader regional pressures.