c.

c. AD 1492 – 1600 (Theory): The process of transculturation in the Caribbean is viewed as a dynamic and ongoing interaction that reshaped both indigenous and European societies. Rather than a simple story of conquest and disappearance, the archaeological record at sites like El Chorro de Maíta shows that native groups actively negotiated their new reality by incorporating European objects into their traditional spiritual and social systems. This theoretical framework moves away from “extinction” narratives to focus on the resilience and persistence of indigenous lineages and practices. Keegan and Hofman emphasize that this hybrid cultural legacy remains a defining feature of the modern Caribbean identity.