c.

c. AD 1000 – 1500 (Theory): In Jamaica, the social and economic organization of indigenous communities was characterized by a high degree of local autonomy and specialized environmental management. Excavations at various sites across the island have revealed that while communities shared broad ceramic traditions, their specific toolkits and dietary preferences were dictated by the resources available in their immediate vicinity, such as hardwood forests or coastal lagoons. Keegan and Hofman argue that these localized adaptations represent a “bottom-up” form of social complexity that contrasts with the more centralized chiefdoms of Hispaniola. This perspective emphasizes the diversity of the “First Islanders” and challenges the notion of a monolithic Caribbean culture.