c.

c. AD 1200 – 1500: The Caicos conch trade was a significant economic activity that linked the small islands of the Turks and Caicos to larger populations in the Greater Antilles. Research into this trade highlights how the Lucayans utilized the vast conch beds of the Caicos Bank to produce dried meat and shell tools for export. This specialized maritime industry supported the growth of unique entrepôts like MC-6, where local resources were exchanged for prestige goods like Chicoid pottery and manioc beer. The scale of this trade demonstrates the high level of economic integration and maritime mobility achieved by northern Caribbean societies prior to contact.