Saladoid facts for kids
The Saladoid culture was an ancient group of people who lived in what is now Venezuela and the Caribbean. They thrived from about 500 BCE to 545 CE. These people were part of the Arawak family. They started near the Orinoco River in South America. From there, they traveled by sea to the Lesser Antilles islands and then to Puerto Rico.
What's in a Name?
The name "Saladoid" comes from a place called Saladero in Venezuela. This is where archaeologists first found their special pottery. The "oid" part is added to show it's a cultural group linked to that place. So, "Saladoid" helps experts identify these early people who made pottery.
When Did They Live?
The Saladoid period is divided into four main timeframes. Each one is known by different styles of pottery they made:
- Hacienda Grande culture (250 BCE to 300 CE)
- Cuevas culture (400 to 600 CE)
- Prosperity culture (1 to 300 CE)
- Coral Bay-Longford culture (350 to 550 CE)
How Did They Travel?
Historians believe the Saladoid culture began near the lower Orinoco River in Venezuela. This is close to the modern towns of Saladero and Barrancas. These people were skilled sailors. They traveled across the sea to settle in the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola.
When they arrived, they replaced an older group called the Ortoiroid culture. The Saladoid people were farmers, so they first settled on islands that had good soil and enough rain for growing crops. They spoke a language from the Arawak language family.
Between 500 and 280 BCE, they moved to the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico. Over time, they became a big part of the culture across the Caribbean islands. In Puerto Rico, you can find signs of their old settlements mostly on the western side of the island.
What Was Their Culture Like?
The Saladoid people were known for three main things: farming, making pottery, and living in settled villages. Their pottery was very special and had many decorations. This unique pottery helps archaeologists find their old sites and understand where they came from.
Saladoid pottery included:
- Pots shaped like animals (called zoomorphic effigy vessels)
- Incense burners
- Platters and trays
- Jars and bowls with handles
- Bell-shaped containers
They often painted their red pottery with white, orange, and black colors.
Another special item they made was stone pendants. These were shaped like birds of prey from South America. They used many beautiful and rare materials for these pendants, such as carnelian, turquoise, lapis lazuli, amethyst, crystal quartz, jasper-chalcedony, and fossilized wood. These special items were traded across the larger and smaller Caribbean islands and even to the South American mainland until about 600 CE.
