Pre-Columbian Jamaica

Article primary: Jamaica Before European Contact

The first people to settle in Jamaica most likely arrived in two separate waves from islands to the east of
the Caribbean island. A civilisation that became known as the "Redware people" arrived around the year
600 CE. Despite this, nothing little is known about these people, other than the fact that they left behind
red pottery. [1] Among the oldest known sites of this Ostionoid individual, who lived near the coast and
heavily hunted turtles and fish, may be found in Alligator Pond in Manchester Parish and Little River in
St. Ann Parish. Both of these locations are in Jamaica. [10]

The Arawak tribes of the Tainos began to arrive on the island about the year 800 CE and eventually
settled in various locations across the island. They made a living by fishing as well as the cultivation of
maize and cassava, and they lived in villages that were administered by tribe rulers who were referred
to as caciques. At the height of their civilisation, it is estimated that their population numbered as high
as 60,000 people. [Civilization] [1]

The Arawak people brought with them to the island a method of growing yuca known as "conuco" that
originated in South America.

[11] The Arawak people burned local plants and trees to produce ash, which they then piled into big
mounds and planted yuca cuttings into. This practice was done to enrich the soil with additional
nutrients. [11] The majority of Arawak people lived in homes known as bohios, which were big circular
structures made of wooden poles, woven straw, and palm leaves. rawak spoke an Arawakan language
and did not have writing. Some of the terminology that they employed have been adopted into Spanish
and English, including barbacoa ("barbecue"), hamaca ("hammock"), kanoa ("canoe"), tabaco
("tobacco"), yuca, batata ("sweet potato"), and juracán ("hurricane"). [12]