c.

c. AD 1200 – 1500: Excavations at the El Flaco site in the northwestern Dominican Republic have revealed evidence of indigenous houses built on leveled ground with swept areas kept remarkably clean. Surrounding these living spaces are earthen mounds that contain large quantities of Chicoid and Meillacoid pottery, as well as beads made of shell, bone, and stone. Interestingly, some burials found at the site suggest that graves may have been left open until the body had desiccated before final interment. The intermingling of different ceramic styles at this location points to a landscape defined by cultural diversity and frequent social interaction. These archaeological features provide a rare glimpse into the daily domestic lives and mortuary rituals of Late Ceramic Age communities.