c.
c. AD 1200 – 1500: At the En Bas Saline site in Haiti, archaeologists discovered a massive, circular structure with a diameter of nearly 20 meters, far exceeding the size of typical indigenous dwellings. This structure is believed to have been the residence of a high-ranking chief, or cacique, due to its central location and the presence of elite goods. The building was constructed using large wooden posts and featured a central hearth and specialized storage areas. Such architectural scale demonstrates the ability of Late Ceramic Age leaders to mobilize significant communal labor for prestigious construction projects. This site provides critical physical evidence of the social hierarchy and political centralization described in early Spanish chronicles.