PEABODY LESSONS

THE TAINO: THE PEOPLE WHO DISCOVERED COLUMBUS

The Taíno are an Indigenous group in the Caribbean, historically situated in Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and neighboring islands. Today’s Taíno people have preserved their language, foodways, and traditional practices, with groups in Puerto Rico and parts of the continental United States. When Columbus landed in Hispaniola the Taíno population was perhaps in the millions and early records estimate that 85 percent of the population had been lost within a few decades. Archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians still debate the existence of modern Taíno, despite DNA evidence and the persistence of cultural patterns. This lesson introduces students to Taíno history, language, and archaeology, including hands on time with the Peabody’s collection of Taíno material culture.