Igneri
Encyclopedia
The Igneri were an ethnic group
that was once part of the Arawak tribe. They inhabited the Lesser Antilles
and Puerto Rico
during the Pre-Columbian era
. They are said to have originated in the Orinoco
region in Venezuela
. In Puerto Rico they were preceded by the Arcaico (Archaic) culture, who are believed to have originated in Central America, and followed by the Taíno
culture, who came from South America
. In the Windward Islands
they were preceded by the Ortoiroid people
, who came from South America, and were displaced or assimilated by the Island-Caribs, who also originated in South America.
The Igneri are believed to have arrived to Dominica
in the year 400 while in St. Croix they are believed to have arrived in 650. They were characterized by their advanced pottery and their canoe
craftmanship. They also brought horticulture
to the Antilles. In Puerto Rico around the year 1000 the Igneri culture was replaced by the Taíno culture.
An archeological dig in Ponce, Puerto Rico
revealed ball parks and ceremonial centers built by the Igneri. The area, known as the Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center
, was abandoned for unknown reasons around the year 600. This site has revealed many importants aspects of the Igneri culture. Information such as the ceremonies, eating habits, ceramic styles and much more has been provided from this site. Evidence has been found that Igneris were farmer
s, fisher
s and hunter
s.
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
that was once part of the Arawak tribe. They inhabited the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
during the Pre-Columbian era
Pre-Columbian era
The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during...
. They are said to have originated in the Orinoco
Orinoco
The Orinoco is one of the longest rivers in South America at . Its drainage basin, sometimes called the Orinoquia, covers , with 76.3% of it in Venezuela and the remainder in Colombia...
region in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. In Puerto Rico they were preceded by the Arcaico (Archaic) culture, who are believed to have originated in Central America, and followed by the Taíno
Taíno people
The Taínos were pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. It is thought that the seafaring Taínos are relatives of the Arawak people of South America...
culture, who came from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. In the Windward Islands
Windward Islands
The Windward Islands are the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies.-Name and geography:The Windward Islands are called such because they were more windward to sailing ships arriving in the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds in the...
they were preceded by the Ortoiroid people
Ortoiroid people
The Ortoiroid people were the first human settlers of the Caribbean, who peaked culturally from 5000—200 BCE. They are believed to have originated in the Orinoco valley in South America, migrating to the Antilles from Trinidad and Tobago to Puerto Rico...
, who came from South America, and were displaced or assimilated by the Island-Caribs, who also originated in South America.
The Igneri are believed to have arrived to Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
in the year 400 while in St. Croix they are believed to have arrived in 650. They were characterized by their advanced pottery and their canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
craftmanship. They also brought horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
to the Antilles. In Puerto Rico around the year 1000 the Igneri culture was replaced by the Taíno culture.
An archeological dig in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
revealed ball parks and ceremonial centers built by the Igneri. The area, known as the Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center
Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center
The Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center in Barrio Portugués, Ponce, Puerto Rico, houses one of the most important archeological discoveries made in the Antilles. The discovery provides an insight as to how the indigenous tribes of the Igneri and Taínos lived and played during and before the arrival...
, was abandoned for unknown reasons around the year 600. This site has revealed many importants aspects of the Igneri culture. Information such as the ceremonies, eating habits, ceramic styles and much more has been provided from this site. Evidence has been found that Igneris were farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s, fisher
Fisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
s and hunter
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
s.