c.
c. AD 600: The origin of Ostionoid pottery has been a subject of intense academic debate, with recent theories suggesting it developed from interactions in the eastern Dominican Republic. Originally, the clear stratigraphic separation between Saladoid and Ostiones components at the Cañas site led researchers to conclude they were two entirely distinct cultures. However, the lack of a clear external source for a new migration prompted a reevaluation of the material as a local “offspring” of the Saladoid tradition. Modern analysis indicates that while the pottery evolved, there was significant continuity in other areas of life, such as stone-tool manufacturing. This stylistic transition marks the beginning of a period of increased regionalism and the formation of distinct cultural identities in the Greater Antilles.