c.

c. AD 1492 – 1550 (Colonial Settlement): Early Spanish colonial outposts in the Greater Antilles, such as La Isabela and Puerto Real, were often established in close proximity to existing indigenous settlements to exploit local labor. At En Bas Saline in Haiti, the Spanish built a fortified structure directly within a large indigenous village, physically materializing the imposition of colonial rule. Excavations at these contact-period sites show a mixture of European ceramics and indigenous pottery, reflecting the daily interactions between the two groups. This spatial overlap was a hallmark of the encomienda system, where native populations were reorganized for Spanish economic gain.