Ortoiroid people facts for kids
The Ortoiroid people were early settlers of the Caribbean. They were the second group to arrive, starting their journey around 2000 BCE. Before them came the Casimiroid peoples. The Ortoiroid likely came from the Orinoco valley in South America. They traveled through Trinidad and Tobago all the way to Puerto Rico. Their name comes from Ortoire, a place in Trinidad where archaeologists found many old shells and tools (a shell midden).
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Where the Ortoiroid People Lived
The Ortoiroid people first lived in South America. From there, they moved into the West Indies. Scientists have found very old Ortoiroid remains in Trinidad, dating back to about 5230 BCE.
The two oldest Ortoiroid sites in Trinidad are Banwari Trace and St. John's Road in South Oropouche. These sites are from around 5500 BCE. At that time, Trinidad might have still been connected to the South American mainland.
Most Ortoiroid archaeological sites are found near or on the coasts. For example, Tobago has at least one site. Martinique has two, and Antigua has 24 sites where they found shell middens. Ortoiroid people lived on St. Kitts from 2000 BCE to 400 BCE.
Ortoiroid Groups in the North
In the northern Caribbean, archaeologists have found two main Ortoiroid groups. These are the Coroso culture and the Krum Bay culture.
The Coroso culture lived in Puerto Rico. Their oldest known site is the Angostura site, which dates back to 4000 BCE. The Coroso culture lasted from about 1500 BCE to 200 CE.
The Krum Bay culture lived in the Virgin Islands. This group was present from about 1500 BCE to 200 BCE. The Krum Bay culture also spread to St. Thomas.
The Ortoiroid are often thought of as the first settlers of Puerto Rico. However, new studies suggest the history might be more complex.
How the Ortoiroid Lived
The Ortoiroid people were hunter-gatherers. This means they found their food by hunting animals and gathering plants. They ate a lot of Shellfish, like clams and oysters. They also ate turtles, crabs, and fish.
They were skilled at making tools from stone. However, they did not make pottery (ceramics). Their tools included bone spearpoints for hunting. They also made jewelry from animal teeth.
Their stone tools included:
- Manos and metates (stones for grinding food)
- Net sinkers (weights for fishing nets)
- Pestles (tools for crushing things)
- Choppers (tools for cutting)
- Hammerstones (stones used as hammers)
- Pebbles used for grinding
Ortoiroid people lived in caves and in open areas. They buried their dead in the soil under their shell middens. Sometimes, archaeologists find red ochre at these sites. This red powder might have been used for body paint.
When the Ortoiroid Disappeared
The Ortoiroid people were eventually replaced by the Saladoid people in the West Indies. In many areas, the Ortoiroid disappeared by about 400 BCE. However, the Coroso culture in Puerto Rico lasted longer, until about 200 CE.
See also
In Spanish: Ortoiroide para niños
