c.

c. 500 BC – AD 540: Early Ceramic Age settlements were established across an intervisible chain of islands that remained invisible from the surrounding mainland. Once discovered, these islands were viewed as highly attractive locations for settlement due to their rich marine and terrestrial resources. Many of these initial communities chose to settle on smaller islands in the northern Caribbean rather than the larger landmasses of the Greater Antilles. This suggests that the first colonists may have prioritized short-term goals and immediate resource access over long-term growth potential. The resulting settlement pattern created a relatively unbroken line of communication and movement throughout the archipelago.