c.

c. AD 400 – 1000 (Theory): The concept of the “Saladoid Series” serves as the foundational framework for understanding the initial migration of horticulturalists from the Orinoco region into the Antilles. Characterized by white-on-red (WOR) painted pottery and elaborate modeled-incised decorations, this tradition reflects a shared cultural heritage that linked the islands for centuries. However, Keegan and Hofman caution that the Saladoid should not be viewed as a single, monolithic group, but as a “mosaic of communities” that began to diversify as soon as they settled in different island environments. This diversification eventually led to the emergence of the distinct Troumassoid and Ostionoid traditions.