Lesser Antilles
On the 18th of July 1995, the previously dormant Soufrière Hills volcano on Montserrat became active. The eruptions destroyed the capital of Plymouth and forced two-thirds of the island's population to flee between 1995 and 2000. Less than 1,200 people remained on the island in 1997 before rising to almost 5,000 by 2016. This geological event highlights the ongoing subduction of oceanic crust from the South American plate under the Caribbean plate. Many islands formed as a result of this process are still subject to volcanic and earthquake activity today. The Lesser Antilles more or less coincide with the outer cliff of the Caribbean plate. Geologically, the island arc stretches from Grenada in the south to Anguilla in the north. Trinidad is part of South America while Tobago remains the remainder of a separate island arc.
Archaeological sites like St. John and Banwari Trace in Trinidad date between 7700 and 6100 B.P. Artifacts from this period include stone and bone tools used for hunting and fishing. A total of 29 Archaic Age sites have been identified in Trinidad and Tobago. These sites are associated with the Ortoiroid people divided into the Banwarian and Ortoiran subseries. During the Late Archaic Age, wild plant foods became more significant with evidence of early plant management. Crops such as maize, sweet potatoes, achira, and chili peppers had been imported and cultivated from the continent. Coastal areas were favored for settlement particularly for their proximity to marine resources and flint quarries. Antigua and St. Martin seem to be the most heavily populated during the Archaic Age. All known Archaic Age sites are in the northern islands with no evidence in the Windward Islands south of Guadeloupe.
In 1493 on his second voyage Christopher Columbus reached the coast of the Caribbean Sea. He called the first island he discovered on this trip the Deseada. The Spanish claimed the island of Dominica and took solemn possession on the land they called Marigalante. They then anchored next to the island they called Guadeloupe. Later they visited Montserrat, Antigua and San Cristobal. French merchant Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc sailed to the Caribbean in 1625 hoping to establish a French settlement on Saint Christopher. In 1635 Spain ceded Martinique to France after 133 years of Spanish control. Over the next centuries the Spanish, French, Dutch, Danish and English fought over several of the islands. Margarita Island was discovered on the 15th of August 1498 during Columbus' third voyage. The province of Trinidad was created in the 16th century by the Spanish with its capital at San José de Oruña.
The Lesser Antilles are divided into eight independent nations and numerous dependent states. Over one third of the total area and population lies within Trinidad and Tobago. In 1917 the United States bought the Danish West Indies. Most of the British colonies became independent states while the islands belonging to Venezuela were divided into two entities. The State of Nueva Esparta and the Federal Dependencies formed in 1938. In 1986 Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles officially becoming a country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 2010 the rest of the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved to form smaller entities. The two official French overseas departments are Guadeloupe and Martinique. St. Martin and St. Barthélemy have had separate status as overseas entities since 2007. Several islands off the north coast of Venezuela are politically part of that country but considered part of the Lesser Antilles.
The islands were dominantly Kalinago Indigenous peoples compared to the Greater Antilles which was settled by the Taíno. The boundary set between them is known as the poison arrow curtain for the Kalinago's favoured weapon. This weapon was used to fend off Europeans that came to conquer the islands in the 16th century. Three migration scenarios have been proposed regarding early settlement patterns. First, Archaic Age communities from South America reached Trinidad, Tobago, and Barbados. Second, the southern Lesser Antilles were bypassed by early settlers with migration directly to the northern islands. Third, technological diffusion occurred without significant population movement from northeastern South America. The discovery of Saladoid pottery in Puerto Rico and the northern Lesser Antilles is understood as a result of exploratory activities and cultural exchanges.
Common questions
When did the Soufrière Hills volcano on Montserrat become active?
The Soufrière Hills volcano on Montserrat became active on the 18th of July 1995. The eruptions destroyed the capital of Plymouth and forced two-thirds of the island's population to flee between 1995 and 2000.
What is the geological origin of the Lesser Antilles islands?
The Lesser Antilles formed as a result of the ongoing subduction of oceanic crust from the South American plate under the Caribbean plate. This process created an island arc stretching from Grenada in the south to Anguilla in the north.
Who were the first people to settle the Lesser Antilles during the Archaic Age?
Archaeological evidence identifies the Ortoiroid people as the primary settlers who divided into the Banwarian and Ortoiran subseries. These communities established sites like St. John and Banwari Trace in Trinidad dating between 7700 and 6100 B.P.
Which European powers claimed sovereignty over the Lesser Antilles after 1493?
Christopher Columbus reached the coast of the Caribbean Sea in 1493, leading Spanish claims to islands such as Dominica and Guadeloupe. Subsequent centuries saw conflict among the Spanish, French, Dutch, Danish, and English over several islands including Martinique and Saint Christopher.
How many independent nations exist within the Lesser Antilles today?
The Lesser Antilles are divided into eight independent nations and numerous dependent states. Over one third of the total area and population lies within Trinidad and Tobago while other entities include Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Aruba.