The Settlement of the Caribbean (A Part of Project Exploration)

How did humans reach and settle the islands of the Caribbean? Check out how the exploration and settlement of the Caribbean defies expectations and is much more complicated than you might think.
PROJECT EXPLORATION PLAYLIST: • Project Exploration
Atlas Altera: / @atlasaltera
Patreon: / ancientamericas
Facebook: / ancientamericas ​
Sources and Bibliography:
docs.google.com/document/d/11...

[@nomeansno5481]

One thing that was always intriguing to me is why the natives of Florida didn't go out and settle islands in the Caribbean, but there's a lot of evidence that pre-colonial South Florida was deeply connected culturally and materially with Caribbean polities and people whereas North Florida was more similar to its Mississippian neighbors in the Southeast. It would be quite interesting if there was evidence of Muskogean languages being spoken in Cuba, but I doubt something like that would ever preserve in the historical record.

[@atlasaltera]

I had the same thinking myself. But I think the Muskogean language family, and the Seminole, were later migrants that moved from the Mississippi Basin. Anyway, the Timucua and Calusa, for example, had huge marine-based food systems involving weirs, so you'd think they would develop ocean-going traditions.

[@bizuko2307]

@@atlasaltera Yep yep, the Muskogeans are *very* recent inhabitants of Florida. They only moved in after the Calusa and other indigenous floridians were almost entirely wiped out by colonization (as far as I'm aware, the last known Calusa were packed off with the Spanish and sent to Cuba after the US took over Florida).

[@atlasaltera]

Oh one more thing to note though is there are myths that can suggest contact between Mayans of the Yucatan and the Lower Mississippi cultures.

[@viracocha6093]

I remember reading that the Claudia had fairly extensive trade with the taino

[@chrisamon4551]

Simple: the Gulf Stream flows north up the Florida coast and away from the Caribbean/Bahamas. Without sails the canoes of native Floridians couldn’t reasonably fight the strong current. Even if some fisherman was swept out to sea during a storm he couldn’t hope to return to his home village from the Bahamas because the Gulf Stream would take him north, where people probably spoke a different language and with no writing the story of new islands dies with the ancient native Florida fisherman.

[@Littlemilkjug533]

Love this video, the Taino and Carib people don’t get enough love. The Taino language has given English many words, like barbecue and canoe and many others.

[@EduardoGarcia-if2kv]

I am Maya/Caribe. Just visit Venezuela and you shall see we love ourselves🤣😂

[@spamloverislandboy]

Really? What other words?

[@Teshub]

Hammock, hurricane

[@spacebunny4335]

I was waiting for this episode I feel that the Caribbean is overlooked in precolumbian history. Great video can't wait for more.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@ricfrexit9510]

@@floridaman318 there is pyramids and a lot of carving rocks an pottery in caribbeans...no one is interested in...dominica, karukera, madinina are full of medicinal plants and agriculture transformation technics as cocoa, urucum, kassava and many more...it's their legacy way before african and indian slavery...

[@EduardoGarcia-if2kv]

Caribe not Carribean*

[@hexagod1313]

@@EduardoGarcia-if2kv what?

[@BrooklyKnight]

I'm half Jamaican and half Guyanese and I will say, it's not often that I see info on the pre-Columbian stuff regarding either country so this is dope!

[@HVLLOWS1999]

My grandmother is from Puerto Rico and she had Taino blood, mixed with African, French and Spanish. When my father was in the second grade he lived in Ponce, Puerto Rico back in the late 1960s. He said that when he was there the last pureblood Taino Indian died. He told me that the guy was crazy, homeless, and extremely strong. He would spend all day everyday throwing extremely heavy rocks into the air and catching them with his bare hands. I thought it was interesting and sad.

[@floridaman318]

This story is very common lol

[@Littlemilkjug533]

Loco de un boricua a otro, the last “pure” taínos probably died in the early 1600s maybe even late 1500s

[@floridaman318]

@@Littlemilkjug533 also, keep in mind people from other parts of Spanish America moved to PR. Just cause somebody in the '60s in the middle of nowhere was Indian looking doesn't mean he's automatically a Taino. Could have been from Chile, Mexico, Brazil, etc. Same way you find Puerto Ricans all across the US since we are citizens.

[@MP-pz9oe]

@@floridaman318 let them enjoy that romantic fantasy

[@andrewrivera1054]

I'm Puerto Rican and there are some people today who claim to be pure blooded Tainos and it's all BS (just like whatever story from the '60s), it's basically some misguided crap (no DNA proof, or historic proof of surviving indigenous populations on the island) taken on by a very small part of the pro independence movement, all pure Tainos died out like 400 to 500yrs ago, and of course Puerto Ricans come in all different colors and races, but when you say imagine or describe a Puerto Rican to the typical American, they think of the overwhelming majority population of the island which is tri-racial being a mix of European (mostly from the Iberian peninsula), African and Taino.

[@ISawABear]

*Another video about the discover of the Caribbean islands* Viewers: "boooo" *Discovery by native/first nations* Views: "yaaaay!" Seriously love these topics from the non old world point of view

[@AncientAmericas]

Love it!

[@ISawABear]

@@AncientAmericas btw if you ever do an episode on the wapato trade routes on the west coast and in bc Canada let me know. I can provide pictures and videos of what the plant looks like and how it flowers and even how it tastes from some i have at home

[@AncientAmericas]

@@ISawABear Thanks!

[@TheKalihiMan]

A point about the ocean currents: in the Pacific, it was a common practice to sail against both the wind and currents on voyages of discovery in order to make a return voyage easier in the event that no land is found. Granted this was made easier by the Polynesians and Micronesians possessing sail technology, but this principle of needing to avoid being stranded at sea if no new land is found seems almost universal. As a side note, this assumption that any voyage by ancient people needed to follow ocean currents is what led Thor Heyerdahl to propose that settlement of the Pacific originated in South America and travelled west, while the modern archaeological and linguistic evidence available instead points to a Southeast Asian and ultimately Taiwanese origin.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Another point about currents. They are far slower than winds. Much less important, though not completely discountable.

[@N8Dulcimer]

Genetic evidence paints a picture of many separate migrations of melonesians, polynesians, and mainland asians across a period of 70k years

[@mabodomoca]

Very interesting observation. It seems that we just tend to follow the laws of nature blindly, not thinking the other way around when it comes to human endeavour.

[@brewswillas6635]

Another point about ocean currents: We're not entirely sure how they moved in antiquity, they may have been drastically different than they are now.

[@atlasaltera]

Whoohoo. Great topic. One less archaeological settlement/migration tidbit that is worth people looking into is the fascinating origins/formation of the people we know as the Island Caribs, which is still debated. Anyway, happy to see this out. And thanks for the shout out!

[@AncientAmericas]

Anytime amigo!! Thank you!

[@marschlosser4540]

the Taino people. Yeah, that sounds cool.

[@HVLLOWS1999]

@@AncientAmericas Will you cover the Mezcala?

[@TheTrekkie12]

i have officially watched every video on this channel at least once (many of them, especially the Mesoamerican ones, multiple times)! This is one of my favorite history channels on youtube

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@Eevcee]

“… and if want to do your own reading, which I always hope that you do…” I feel like I’m in class right now and you’re our professor. I love that ☺️

[@kareembertrand5163]

Strange - the island of Dominica - NOT THE Dominican Republic - BUT DOMINICA still has Kalinago/Carib people today - but was not highlighted in this video. This is the island immediately south of Guadeloupe.

[@bobdollaz3391]

Aren't they Zambo?

[@user-lx7px7ue6t]

@@bobdollaz3391No

[@aleksandrakaczmarska]

Barely started watching but I already feel like I need to say how happy I am to see a video from you about the settlement of the Caribbean! Thank you!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@FernandoRaulAstrology]

Aunque no haya dicho nada.

[@unmermaid]

Oh I’m from trinidad and I’m so glad to see someone covering the Caribbean in history! Clicked play immediately on this one

[@greygowder5558]

I'm really glad you mentioned sea level rise. I think it is an underappreciated element when talking about coastal and island civilizations. It would seem that much of our unknown global history is offshore.

[@AncientAmericas]

Indeed!

[@CynicalFish.]

I don't usually comment, but my most sincere thanks for covering this topic. The history of the Caribbean, not as a footnote but as the geographic and macrocultural region it has comprised for most of its history, is sadly overlooked way too often. As a Puerto Rican, this was a much-needed refresher on my knowledge of our ancient native history, and an update from the sadly outdated perspective we're provided in our schooling system. Here's to more content featuring this beautiful part of the world. ¡Un abrazo desde Puerto Rico!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@aliciaconquest2832]

macroculture... definitely stealing that term. Thank you :)

[@sarahwatts7152]

It's incredible to me that so much of this history isn't yet known, or is completely unknowable.

[@bethbartlett5692]

It is Mainstream Academia resistance to letting go of their "19th Century Theory based Paradigm and Linear Timeline", used as their foundation of fact. Yet it is being forced to accept new ideas as DNA is proving what they have long denied, ie: Ancients were mastered Seafarers. It will get better quickly now. .

[@carlislepanting5219]

Thanks a lot for the upload ancient america!! Watching from Belize central america I'm from formerly known as British Honduras and we're considered a Caribbean country as well!!✌🏽🙏🌎🇧🇿

[@ramonjamison373]

They all came from the mainland of the United States facts and common sense

[@carlislepanting5219]

Watching from Belize central america I'm from and thanks for the upload!! Belize central america Is also considered a Caribbean country !!✌🏽🙏🌎🇧🇿

[@joshuagrahm3607]

Now that’s something I’m incredibly happy to see in my subscription feed

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@strikeforce1500]

I live in the Caribbean, specifically, la Hispaniola. Would you believe me if i tell you, how little history teachers/programs talk about the natives if this island?, sure, they mention how it was divided and the leaders of each part, but aside of that, its basically straight up to Colon/Columbus bumping into this place. No talk about how they end up here, what they did aside of generically saying 'fish and hunt', there are a few myths mentioned, like the lady with long hair and reverse feets, etc. Which, sure, you can attributes to colonization, but its also a shame that the people in my country rarely care about the native's story Edit: Also, Fray Antonio Montesinos and Ramon Pane were truly Based as heck

[@dovahqueen4607]

As always, thank you for taking the time to highlight peoples and cultures so many of us were never exposed to in our school experiences. Every time I see new work from you pop up I know I'm going to learn something new!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@islandarawaktaino9881]

Parrots generally. It was normal for indigenous Nation of the Caribbean, to always have Macaws perched "on the lookout" for any upcoming eventuality e.g. rain, storms, hurricanes, volcanoes, earthquakes etc., by the alarming chirps they'd make for such. You might know that Macaws with circles around their eyes are those that could talk, hence the belief these birds were sort of "superhuman". Note, pre-Columbus peoples generally never kept birds in cages.. because it was felt they're a symbol of "freedom" etc.

[@portalthefella]

hey i was just researching the calusa of florida and their contact with the caribbean what a coincidence! like always you go over things i didn't even realize existed and expand what i know on these topics, great work

[@mysticusfreeze]

I literally cannot put into words how much i love this youtube channel. I have watched every video multiple times and it is not enough i need it injected into my veins. Seeing you upload makes me so excited. I wish i wasn't a poor college student who could support you on patreon. I recommend thus channel to everyone and its what kickstarted my current school project on meso america. Thank you:)

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you! You've warmed my heart!

[@Alaskan-Armadillo]

Glad to see a video on this topic! The Caribbean has a pre-Columbian history and culture just like everywhere else in the America's! Its sad how it is just now that we are really starting to dive deep and trying to understand our roots but hey its something!

[@josecarvajal6654]

The Saledoids later expanded west becoming the major culture in the higher antilles, forming the Taino culture and achieving a great deal of sofistication. To learn more on the issue I recomend "Tainos and Caribs: The Aboriginal Cultures of the Antilles" by Sebastián Robiu Lamarche

[@miahconnell23]

Thank you for the recommendation !! 🙏 (I’m a history teacher, & this kind of thing is actually very important to me.)

[@EduardoGarcia-if2kv]

Salediuds* Do the Arawako call themselves that? Like calling a welsh an afgan. Caribe people are from Venezuela. We came first and colonized. Hence the name Caribe Sea

[@josecarvajal6654]

@@EduardoGarcia-if2kv It´s hard to know exactly what they called themselves, but no, the Caribs weren´t the first people to colonize the Caribbean, neither the Arawaks. There were several waves of migration, each group bringing new technologies and assimilating previews groups.

[@dignairizarrycassens1113]

One of the 4 books I ordered last night.

[@josecarvajal6654]

@@dignairizarrycassens1113 great! Enjoy

[@lukemyers1620]

I've been waiting for you to make a video on the Caribbean for so long

[@AncientAmericas]

Hopefully it won't be my only video on the topic.

[@naciremasti]

It's always great when channels I'm subbed to collaborate. It really only happens with history channels, but there needs to be more of em. Keep up the great work.

[@Infinite_voyager]

This type of collaborations between history channels are always amazing!

[@AncientAmericas]

Be sure to check out his channel. His content will really fire up your imagination.

[@jaybrodell1959]

The video correctly mentioned changes in sea level, which were up to 420 feet during the last Ice Age. Consequently, some of the best sites for study certainly are hidden under the sea now, as they are elsewhere. Certainly this is where the greater populations would have settled. But we can only consider what we have. There are some who speculate with some evidence that the central Mexican culture even traveled as far as Georgia and South Carolina for gold and other important materials.

[@sizanogreen9900]

Always great to learn about something I didn't even know I was itching to learn about:) Thank you as always for your great content!

[@AncientAmericas]

You're welcome!

[@HistoryandHeadlines]

Here's to hoping that the collab will push you past 100,000 subscribers!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@HistoryandHeadlines]

@@AncientAmericas You're welcome!

[@greyfells2829]

I appreciate that this content handles this history simply as history, instead of the often colorful and politically motivated romancing of the natives that's become very common these past years. They were humans like us, they deserve to be seen as more than objects of tragic pity.

[@aiaimonkey9085]

The stories of early man have always fascinated me. You could only imagine the way they lived and what they'd think of us today.

[@gustavovillegas5909]

Your channel is a treasure trove, always happy when I see an upload!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@Maxaldojo]

Good job, Ancient Americas! The maps and images were helpful.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@hermit7903]

Good to know about the Arawak! I didn't know they were so extensive.

[@jeffaltier5582]

As usual, you have done an amazing video. Great narration, graphics, and information.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@theodoresmith5272]

I have always had my own thoughts on this. This will be good. One of my favorite channels.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@theodoresmith5272]

@@AncientAmericas no thank you. Your very informative on something i love. I went to Maya ruins in the yucatan when I was 13 and the American southwest ruins like Mesa Verde plus the modern culure the next summer in about 1985. Since then I've been to lots of ruins and sites from Canada to Chile. Its a personal passion. Peru is special..so the moche and tawanaka I found awesome. I went to Mexico again 2 years ago as it was one of the open countries. This time hitting some ruins outside Merida and then on to palenque which was a really cool ruin. Then on to some around MX. But it was finding out just how many and how many really dynamic other cultures were there that will make me go back. That is why I love the videos on the people's of Mexico. Any good stuff on the people of Colombia?

[@AncientAmericas]

Do you have any English language literature on the Muisca? The language barrier is torpedoing my designs for a Colombia episode.

[@theodoresmith5272]

@@AncientAmericas oh no that's why I asked you. I traveled there last year. Why did I ask about Colombia? To me it sets up because of the geography to be a place populated early on after the first arrival that could support a large population and where culture and civilization should have thrived although mainly in the valley between the mountain ranges. its where I think people went into the Amazon too along the east side of the Andes first then deeper into the true jungle to the east.. but I think that area between and in the mountains was full of people when the Spanish showed up. Just my hypnosis though. To be honest, I often come back from somewhere with 10 new people to learn about. Peru and Mexico were like that but Colombia it wasn't like that(but I thought should be) You don't see ruins or books or modern day groups (as compared to some places) so it was just hard to find/figure it out. Colombia was the 10th of the 10 big countries of South America I have been too. I go back.to.ecuador next month.

[@idbuyanewbmx]

These are always must watch! As soon as I see a new one, I get so excited to learn!

[@archipielagohistorico]

I am impressed with this video! It is informative, interactive, objective, and evidence-backed.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@archipielagohistorico]

@@AncientAmericas We should collaborate. I'll be sending an email soon. 🙌

[@Piperdogloveshats]

Please do more videos like this showing the migrations and settlements of different areas!! So interesting and well done!!! Thank you for great content

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@eggboi4564]

So happy your back!

[@AncientAmericas]

Why thank you!

[@JonnoPlays]

I was thinking about how they found the islands in the pacific. They're so tiny and in the middle of so much ocean. But then it hit me the island is a volcano 🌋 it would have a huge beacon anytime it went off.

[@AncientAmericas]

A very good point. Although you have to be able to find your way back to where you came from too.

[@JonnoPlays]

@@AncientAmericas tell the family to light a huge fire back home and don't let it go out until we return lol 😅

[@veggieboyultimate]

This channel is like pbs eons but with indigenous people

[@ddurlon]

I DONT KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER ME BUT YESSS I BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOREVERR

[@AncientAmericas]

Ask and ye shall receive.

[@Piperdogloveshats]

This was my first time watching one of your videos and I'm hooked! Obviously the topic is interesting but your maps and visuals helped make it easy to follow and understand. Can't wait to dive in!

[@AncientAmericas]

Enjoy!

[@islandarawaktaino9881]

Fascinating education. This documentary offers a clear reason for voyages like that of the Gli Gli Corial of 1997.. 700-odd miles of navigating the Caribbean Sea from Waitukubuli island to the Pomeroon River, Guyana. "Retracing ancient ancestral roots".

[@xZOOMORPHICx]

Nice. Thank you so much for the history lesson. 🥂

[@AncientAmericas]

You're welcome!

[@applejuice3562]

Awesome work

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@flyinpug3791]

I love this channel!

[@AncientAmericas]

I love this comment!

[@gequitz]

Enjoying Atlas Altera now. Thanks for the recommendation. Looking forward to Pacific Northwest & Inuit videos.

[@igor-yp1xv]

Great episode as always!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@VerdadTruth]

The moment they do Lidar over all the islands we will be awestruck at what was built.

[@enixxe]

Was literally just thinking to myself that it had been a while since you last uploaded and wondering when the next one was coming.

[@AncientAmericas]

Here it is!

[@peterjanson1058]

Fantastic content as always! Love that you explained the etymology of Casamiroid, I was totally thinking it was a polish archaeologist's name.

[@federation_comrade]

Thank you so much for making this history more accessible

[@AncientAmericas]

You're welcome!

[@chromiumex2384]

So happy to see my ancestors getting some of the recognition they deserve

[@frederickbaez9167]

I will say this was a great video! I remember from a while back this article published by National Geographic talking about New Evidence and information on indigenous colonization of the greater Antilles. I believe that they talked about genetic traces of the Lucayan people (I believe a subgroup of the Arawak) sailed from Northern Venezuela to Hispaniola, and then from there went on to the Lucayan Archipelago and parts of Cuba. Also also, the Indigenous museum and archeological site in Tibes, Puerto Rico has some information on the political structures of Puerto Rico and even Hispaniola during the beginnings of European contact. Loved this video! So glad someone found interest in such an amazing and overlooked portion if the world :)

[@jacobbasque8563]

Your videos are amazing, man! I really admire the amount of research you make and the video editing is amazing too!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@masonp2863]

Keep up the great vids

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@thefisherking78]

You really do produce some great quality content and I appreciate your insights into history and prehistory

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@atlasaltera]

Fascinating to think that Jamaica and the Bahamas were unsettled when so much activity was happening all around them, and also interesting to think about the possibility of contact with the the Calusa and the maritime and fish weir cultures of Florida (though it would've probably been through the Bahamas). But yeah, as you say in 19:06, the region gets VERY interesting, although you didn't get to one of the last Indigenous migrations in the region, that of the Kalinago/Ineri, who were of Carib origin but adopted the local Arawakan language... There are some interesting hypotheses for that cultural outcome. I guess you didn't cover this because you were focused more on archaeological evidence of settlements/earlier migrations? Also, apologies for the quirky-looking map haha.

[@AncientAmericas]

Yeah, if I went into details on the cultures, that video would have been an hour long and I'd be the hospital. Nonsense! The map is lovely!

[@tselone]

Things got funky for a minute, lol 😂 Great video, none the less!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thanks!

[@M.M.83-U]

Wonderfull and fascinating.

[@robsmith9989]

Cool that you and atlas altera are buds, big fan of both of your work :)

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@underarock9447]

keep up the good work bro

[@AncientAmericas]

Thanks Rock!

[@Numba003]

When I was in college, I wound up missing out on a Caribbean Literature class that I'm sure would've been interesting. Thank you for this interesting dive into the original populations of the Caribbean. Stay well out there everybody, and God bless you, friends. ✝️ :)

[@blanket4763]

5:24 one thing- the W is silent in boatswain, it’s pronounced like “boat’s in”

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you. As you can probably tell, I'm no sailor.

[@pablofamodou7742]

Thank you for this delicious food today

[@AncientAmericas]

You're welcome!

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thanks this is very interesting.

[@AncientAmericas]

You're welcome!

[@vtron9832]

Thank you very much

[@AncientAmericas]

You're welcome!

[@bigbird772]

Well this was an unexpected topic and a lot of fun

[@bobbyreyes6609]

I would love to hear about Urraca, one of the first Panamanian indigenous leaders that rebelled against Spain to the point where he was feared. Panama has him on their coin now and named countless places after him

[@RIUWithDrAndy106]

That's a pretty interesting video and I hope you keep up content like this more keep up the great work my friend. 😎

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you. More is coming!

[@RIUWithDrAndy106]

To be honest I can't wait also would you be live streaming today ?@@AncientAmericas

[@TyyDaymon]

Awesome love the maps

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@rawr2u190]

Very interesting thank you

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@sierrrrrrrra]

Question from a layperson: isn't it true that ocean currents change based on the global climate? How confident are researchers that ocean currents were the same as they are now? Thanks and keep up the great content!!!

[@AncientAmericas]

Excellent question but you'd have to ask a climatologist if you want a good answer.

[@floridaman318]

Yes currents change all the time over thousands of years. Climate period never remains static. This is why saying "climate change" is so redundant. It's like saying a dead corpse. If the climate isn't in flux, that's the moment we all die.

[@sierrrrrrrra]

@@floridaman318 climate change has been accelerating like never before in the history of Earth because of human activity. Don't be a clown

[@floridaman318]

@@sierrrrrrrra no it hasn't though. Our influence on the climate is miniscule. It may be relatively warm right now, but overall we are in a massively warm period in climate history period and have been for a long time. Climate change is inevitable and unpredictable. Stop falling for the 21st century equivalent of voodoo and rain dancing. Nothing changes. 1000 years ago, some people thought they could summon rain by dancing, now we think we control the weather because cows fart too much. Who exactly is the clown here?

[@Dishsoapdirt1976]

As a mariner, Ocean currents are predominately determined by the rotation of the earth. Large bodies of water moves accordingly. Landmass & underwater contours define how currents turn. Additionally, water temperature determines how water moves up or down in the column, effecting strength of current. I doubt that 5000 years ago the direction of the dominate currents were that much different. The strength of the currents... Those could be different.

[@promiscuous5761]

Thank you.

[@AncientAmericas]

You're welcome!

[@kariannecrysler640]

I find the inevitable change in timelines a wonderful thing. It brings me great joy knowing there will always be more to discover. I can’t wait for the day archaeologists, scientists, historians & mathematicians become the icon’s of their eras! I believe they will be more inspiring than the leaders of big tech have become.😊💚

[@pabloxalejandro1124]

Awesome video from an amazing channel! Such an unexplored topic in popular culture. I've received the notification of the video and I stopped working just to watch it

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@arturorey3782]

Today I thought a lot about this channel while visiting the site of Cantona, and then I realized you had just posted an episode today! What a blessing. Seriously I don't think I would have appreciated the site half as much if I hadn't seen all your mesoamerican civilization videos before hand. Are you thinking of covering the Cantona culture anytime soon? It seems to be a massively under rated site, even here in Mexico.

[@AncientAmericas]

I had actually never heard of cantona before I read your comment so I'm very pleased you mentioned it. I've added it to the master list! Thank you!

[@arturorey3782]

@@AncientAmericas you're welcome! I really recommend looking at with the Google maps satellite imagery. They say only 2% of it has been excavated, and it truly shows! Rows and rows of the square walled dwellings still covered by nature are easily distinguishable through the satellite.

[@parmaxolotl]

Pre-Columbian Caribbean culture and trade interest me a ton, especially with me living in Florida and my family being from Roatán, off the Honduran coast. I was there recently and went to the museum at Anthony’s Key, where I took a picture of this interesting plaque: “Before beginning the conquest of Honduras, Spanish from the Greater Antilles made SLAVE RAIDS in the Bay Islands. An account of one of these infamous escapades survives today. A fleet sent by the GOVERNER OF CUBA attacked the islands, took several hundred Indians captive, and shipped them immediately back to Cuba. Once in port, the Spanish left these ships unguarded. The captives seized one vessel and made sail BACK TO THE BAY ISLANDS. Even though the Indians were pursued and eventually recaptured in the Bay Islands by the Spanish, this event demonstrates the knowledge and skill of these island navigators, even with such unfamiliar craft as those of the Europeans.” I have yet to confirm the validity of this story, but I wonder if you’ve heard anything similar. It would be really interesting because it would show people of the different cultures of the Caribbean and Central America were comfortable trading over vast distances with open sea between them, and I wonder if their use of a European craft might also hint at familiarity with sails.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thats an amazing account!

[@christineabedini3765]

Very cool

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@islandboy7271]

From Puerto Rico, gracias!😁💪🏽🇵🇷

[@AncientAmericas]

De nada!

[@MrSunturion]

Excellent video. I just found your Channel a few Days ago. Love the Content, I especially find it interesting as a Peruvian Mestizo myself. Just subscribed as well.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you! Glad to have you here!

[@log314]

I was watching you potato video today and followed it up with some videos on Moray. I would love for you to do a video on that geeking in the agriculture and engineering at that site. Just my suggestion. Thanks for all the work you do to make such great videos!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you. I've got moray somewhere on my list so hopefully it will get some attention someday.

[@indigenouspodcast2257]

Awesome and informative video as always! Really interesting to learn about this particular region and the migration patterns. Feel like they don’t get enough love haha.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thanks! Can't wait to see your next video!

[@indigenouspodcast2257]

@@AncientAmericas thank you!! Looking forward to making them!

[@RIUWithDrAndy106]

What up guys ? 😎

[@RIUWithDrAndy106]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jITNZ2qior2ZgtE My friend I'm going to show you the video that is going to be generically disgusting but this is why I want this petition to be signed !!! 😎

[@rileycritter9286]

Cool! Thank you!

[@rileycritter9286]

life weaves both clockwise and counter clockwise.

[@AncientAmericas]

You're welcome!

[@juanherrera3518]

Well Ancient Americas, your presentation of the history of the Caribbean islands is not short of being academically brilliant, as any of your past work, however I'd like to note a small detail, at the time of the original Caribbeans inhabiting the islands, there was a colony of ground sloths that survived into the Holocene, the Megalocnus, sadly they were among the last of the New World megafauna species to go extinct.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thanks for sharing that! I had no idea there was a giant ground sloth out there.

[@Art_Vark_and_Rock]

...top notch vid, i learned, i laughed, i feel like im almost a better person for having watched this...rock on dude...!!!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@joelrivera4874]

There are references in old spanish books that the canoas of the tainos where as big as thier ships made out of the caoba trees witch are huge trees. And cristobal colon used an taino sailor to teach him how to navigate using the stars. Theres also an interesting connection between the tainos in PR and the indigenous peoples of the Canary island.

[@RCSVirginia]

When the first men came to the Caribbean islands, they found a rich and varied flora and fauna. This was especially true on the larger islands. On Cuba, alone there were numerous species of ground sloths, many different hutias, a giant solenodon, flightless cranes and herons, birds of prey and a giant owl, amongst others. For the first settlers on the islands, the large animals were an easy source of meat, and even the smaller ones were hunted. The introduction of the newcomers' dogs, also, added pressure on the smaller species. In a short time, nearly all of these animals had been wiped out and were extinct.

[@RCSVirginia]

Argentine KZbinr Claudia with the channel Caminos de la Tierra has a very good YT video on the extinct fauna of Cuba entitled "Conoce la FAUNA EXTINTA de CUBA!"

[@AncientAmericas]

@@RCSVirginia thank you!

[@adrianguerra8850]

I liked your videos! The information is very valuable! Nonetheless, I would like to see more the art of the saladoid!

[@AncientAmericas]

Finding saladoid art online is difficult and one of the sites that I planned on getting art from went offline. I wish I could have shown more.

[@joeshmoe8345]

Super fuckin cool stuff. Thanks a bunch for sharing this with us boss!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@HistoryofAztlan]

Very informative! While researching this topic did you come across Guanahatabey people of Cuba? Also very interesting to see the seafaring skills of these peoples. It reminds me of the Chumash and Tongva of Southern California who used the tom’ol/ti’at canoes who also island hopped, albeit smaller canoes than the ones you showed here.

[@AncientAmericas]

Yes, I did. They are a very interesting culture. There is some interesting speculation about their origins.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

They island hopped up that chain of islands. You don't just canoe out into the unknown, that's a great way to die horribly. Islands give shelter from storms and strong winds, currents etc. Winds also change direction depending on time of day etc. Having options helps survival, islands give you 360° of shelter. If they had awesome seagoing canoes and supplies then they could have easily used the current and winds to make the crossing to the main island. Seems archaeology supports the latter migration. It's all about winds and currents.

[@AncientAmericas]

I'd guess that that's how they were originally explored but who knows.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

@@AncientAmericas perhaps we'll never know. If you look at Easter Island, advanced seafarers landed, then their society declined.

[@marschlosser4540]

@ 14:05, Lesser Antilles. How is the water there? There are islands with have to springs, but have to depend completely on rainfall. A lack of water would be a major reason to not settle the islands, though people would have visited, even planted crops and come back to harvest.

[@AncientAmericas]

Very good question. I'm not entirely sure although I know that a few islands have no freshwater sources.

[@ernestocasillas2130]

I recommend you look into José Alegría, he contributed a lot to understanding the native history in Puerto Rico

[@islandarawaktaino9881]

As far as is known yes. It seems a combination of astrology & the movement of flocks of birds would've helped the great 1st discoverers of the Caribbean islands, as they paddled out in flotillas of corials from South America thousands of years ago. And from evidence available, the Warau, Katina/Carib & Lokono/Arawak Nations were the 1st such star-reading voyagers from out of coastal South America.