Some history books refer to the Arawaks and Caribs as the two major groups to have colonized the Caribbean. However, archaeological research has pointed to the presence of multiple cultural groups in the region before 1492, namely the Casimiroid, Ortoioroid, Saladoid, Barrancoid, Troumassan Troumassoid, Suazan Troumassoid, and Ostionoid peoples. Caribbean archaeologists have designated these various groups based on the names of sites where artifacts associated with the groups were first identified.
http://islandluminous.fiu.edu/part01-slide02.html#:~:text=Named%20after%20the%20Ostiones%20site,Ostionoids%20are%20still%20being%20debated.
The Ostionoid people were a cultural and linguistic group associated with the pre-Columbian indigenous societies in the Caribbean. The term “Ostionoid” is used by archaeologists to describe a cultural complex that emerged in the Caribbean around 600 AD and persisted until the arrival of Christopher Columbus. The Ostionoid culture is considered part of the wider Arawakan cultural and linguistic group.
Key features of the Ostionoid culture include:
- Agriculture: The Ostionoid people were skilled horticulturists, cultivating crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes, maize (corn), and other vegetables. Agriculture was a crucial aspect of their subsistence.
- Pottery: They were known for their pottery, which often featured intricate designs and was used for both utilitarian and ceremonial purposes.
- Village Life: Ostionoid societies typically lived in villages. These villages were organized around central plazas and included houses, storage facilities, and communal spaces.
- Trade: The Ostionoid people engaged in trade networks, exchanging goods such as pottery, tools, and agricultural products with neighboring communities.
- Social Organization: Like many indigenous groups in the Caribbean, the Ostionoid societies had social hierarchies. Leadership roles were often held by individuals known as caciques.
“The Caribbean Island of Jamaica was initially inhabited in approximately 600 AD or 650 AD by the Redware people, often associated with redware pottery.[1][2][3] By roughly 800 AD, a second wave of inhabitance occurred by the Arawak tribes, including the Tainos” WIKIPEDIA
It’s important to note that the term “Ostionoid” is primarily used by archaeologists to categorize a specific archaeological culture, and it represents a phase in the pre-Columbian history of the Caribbean. The Ostionoid people were part of the broader cultural tapestry of the Arawakan-speaking peoples who inhabited the Caribbean islands.
