c.

c. AD 1200 – 1500 (Subsistence and Diet): The diet of Late Ceramic Age populations in the Caribbean was remarkably diverse, utilizing a “multi-crop” strategy that mitigated the risk of failure in any single food source. While bitter manioc was a central staple, stable isotope and starch grain analyses have confirmed the significant consumption of maize, sweet potatoes, and the semi-domesticated guáyiga. This horticultural base was supplemented by a wide array of marine proteins, including reef fish, sea turtles, and Queen conch. Keegan and Hofman argue that this dietary flexibility was a key factor in the long-term resilience of Antillean societies and their ability to sustain high population densities across different island environments.