c.

c. AD 900 – 1500: The Île à Rat site, located on a tiny island off the north coast of Haiti, provides a clear stratigraphic record of the transition between different pottery series. Despite its small size of less than half a hectare, the island served as a strategic location guarding the mouth of the Baie de l’Acul. Excavations revealed layers of cultural debris that document the local evolution of ceramic styles over several centuries. The site’s sandy soil and humic enrichment preserved a variety of artifacts that assist researchers in dating the regional shift toward Meillacoid and Chicoid traditions. This tiny island outpost underscores the importance of even the smallest landmasses in the maritime networks of pre-Columbian societies.