Ortoiroid and Casimiroid migration models in the Caribbean

Record summary

During the 1970s and 1980s, Caribbean archaeologists debated Ortoiroid and Casimiroid labels for early preceramic populations, their chronology, and possible mainland origins. The discussion drew on sites in Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Cuba, and the Lesser Antilles and addressed whether similar tools reflected migration, convergence, or long-term local development. This is a useful lead for comparing archaeological classification with migration narratives. The categories are not neutral ethnic identities, and their archaeological boundaries, dates, and geographic distributions were revised repeatedly in later scholarship.