c.

c. AD 200 – 600: Interaction between incoming Saladoid migrants and established Archaic Age communities played a crucial role in shaping the later cultural landscape of Puerto Rico. Archaeological evidence shows that Archaic populations survived on the island for centuries after the arrival of ceramic-producing groups, maintaining their own distinct dietary and technological traditions. Detailed lithic studies have revealed close affinities between the stone tools of the Archaic Age and those of the later Ostiones assemblages. This suggests a process of transculturation where the descendants of the “First Islanders” significantly influenced the development of Ceramic Age societies. Such findings highlight that the pre-Columbian history of the Caribbean was a product of long-term cultural blending rather than simple population replacement.