5000 BC – AD 1492

c. 5000 BC – AD 1492: The dispersal of human populations across the Greater Antilles initiated a long history of contact with a vast array of ecological environments. As these groups settled on different islands, local environmental factors encouraged the development of diverse behavioral repertoires and social arrangements. This resulted in a complex mosaic of cultural identities that are visible today through the varying material remains found by archaeologists. Researchers argue that the pre-Columbian Caribbean should be viewed as a dynamic region characterized by constant social articulation and regional expression. Understanding these long-term historical processes is essential for moving beyond simplistic colonial narratives of indigenous life.