Who were the Taino?

The Taino were the prominent indigenous peoples of the Caribbean until the late 15th century. The word Taino means good people in their ancient language. A major part of their ancestral lineage comes from South America. These ancestors traveled up the islands of the Lesser Antilles and settled eventually in the islands of the Greater Antilles. As they moved into the Greater Antilles, they merged with or displaced peoples who were already living there. Some of those persons were from Central America and or Mexico. The “Classic Taino” or the Taino who had the most elaborate displays of culture occupied the islands now known as Cuba, Haiti/Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and even the Southern tip of Florida.

What was the environment like?

The Caribbean island homelands of the Taino were formed by volcanoes and the movement of tectonic plates. Numerous mountains resulted in rivers which the Taino depended on to sustain life. Caves were also common land structures. The majority of these islands were covered by tropical rain forests. The islands were devoid of large mammals but iguana and other small animals were transported to the islands by floating bogs from South America or human intervention. Many varieties of birds, reptiles, and insects are found on the islands, some unique to certain islands. The Koki, a small tree frog is very common in Boriken (Puerto Rico) for example and has a very distinctive chirp.

How did the Taino live?

Taino communities varied greatly in size, ranging from an estimated 200 to 2000 people. Iukaieke (villages) were laid out around a central plaza or ball court called a batei (pronounced Bah-teh-ee). Festivals, dances, and ball games were held here. On one end of the batei was the chief or kasike’s house called a kanei. The kanei was a large rectangular shaped structure with a large reception area in the front and a living area in the back. It was usually the largest and highest quality dwelling place in the village. The villagers lived in round or oval structures called bohio. The bohio were placed on either side of the kanei around the plaza and varied greatly in size. Multiple families, often related, lived in a single bohio, some housing up to 200 people. Hammocks were strung from the center pole to the walls of the bohio like spokes on a wheel with supplies hung in baskets on the walls or in the rafters. The structures were composed of vertically placed palm tree logs and thatched roofs, had earthen floors, and were strong enough to resist hurricanes.

Did the Taino stay in one place?

The Taino had permanent and semi-permanent villages. Sometimes, when resources in one area became scarce from over harvesting, the community would be forced to relocate. Fisherman would sometimes leave the village for periods of time and harvest shellfish, fish, etc on another island, then return. When the village population was growing so that the village could no longer support the population, tribal fissure would occur, where a group of males and their families would relocate to an unpopulated area.

What was daily life like for the Taino?

The Taino led very peaceful, gentle, and simple lives. There was very little crime. The villages were well organized and crops were grown in a very effective mound system which required very little maintenance. This allowed the Taino to have much free time. Their day started very early with everyone going to the river to bathe. Groups would eat breakfast together and then perform their assigned tasks. Most tasks were completed by the afternoon when the sun was at its highest. The Taino would often bathe several times a day. At planting time, the villagers would all assist in forming the crop mounds and planting the crops. In the evenings, they would often gather at the ball court for dances, feasts, and ceremonies. Ceremonies were performed for many life events including marriage, birth, coming of age, harvest and planting, and hurricanes among others. Spirituality was very important to the Taino and it is extremely difficult to separate from their daily life. Many of their activities related directly or indirectly to honoring spirit-beings known as cemi (Seh-mee).

Were marriages arranged?

Marriages were often arranged between the children of kasike of different villages; even between different island communities. The goal of these marriages was to create alliances, increase security, or to increase/maintain the power of a kasike and his village. Most Taino were married without prearranged agreements. Children were considered old enough to marry shortly after puberty.

What were Taino burial rites like?

After the death of a kasike, the body would be wrapped in cotton cloth, positioned in a fetal position, and placed on the kasike’s duho (special chair). The kasike would be buried in a pit sitting on his duho along with weaponry, instruments, pottery, and food offerings as well as personal artifacts. Some were placed in special caves. After a year or two, some of the bones could be collected and placed in a basket which hung from the roof of the family’s bohio. This is referred to as the second burial.

Was there a ceremony when the new kasike was promoted?

A special areito was arranged for the new kasike. The kasike would be dressed with body paint, jewelry and would wear an elaborate cape made of parrot feathers. The focus of this ceremony would be the handing over of a round or half moon shaped gold medallion which was a symbol of authority. In a large village, the areito could last for days but would be shorter in length for a smaller community.

What did the Taino eat?

The Taino were dependent on the sea as a major food source. They fished using nets, hooks, spears, cages, and bows and arrows to catch fish. A “sleeping potion” was made from local plants that would be poured into inland ponds and streams causing the fish to “sleep” and float to the surface. Fisherman followed seagulls to locate large schools of fish. Crabs, shellfish, sea turtles, and manati (manatees) were also harvested.

A variety of crops were cultivated. “New life” cemi (baibrama) were often planted in the connucos to ensure good crops. Yuka (Cassava) was an important root crop that was grown in mounds called Konuko and could be stored in the ground for 6-7 months. The root was grated and the pulp was squeezed to remove the juice which was poisonous. The resulting powder was mixed with water and baked on flat clay plates called buren, thus making a kind of flat bread, similar to a tortilla. The bread could then eaten with meat and vegetables. Cassava bread remained fresh for extended periods of time which was an advantage in a tropical climate and was a primary food source. Cassava juice was boiled with other ingredients in a delicious stew called ahiako or pepper pot to further remove toxins. The pepper pot was cooking continuously to provide food for the family as needed. Corn, peanuts, squash, sweet potatoes, beans, tobacco, and peppers were grown around the bohio and on the Konuko. Guava, pineapple, papaya and many other fruits were grown by the Taino.

There were no large game animals on the islands but the Taino hunted hutia (large rodents about the size of a cat), iguana, snakes, ducks, and birds. Hutia were often chased into corals and kept until needed.

Some communities were able to find honey which could be used as an important trade item. The wax from the hives had many uses.

What did the Taino wear?

The Taino wore very little clothing. A loin cloth was worn to cover the genitals. This cloth was of varying lengths and was worn between the legs and secured with a belt around the waist forming a skirt of sorts. The length of a woman’s skirt depended on her rank in the community. A high ranking female wore a longer skirt than a woman of lower rank. Everyone was topless. Children did not usually wear clothes. In the higher altitudes where it is cooler a type of poncho called a mao was used. Kasike would often wear elaborate plumage capes for important occasions. Bodies were painted with geometric shapes using black and red dye made from plants. The Taino were skilled at making pottery stamps that could be used to apply symbols to the body. Necklaces, earrings, nose rings, bracelets for wrists and ankles, and belts were also worn, especially for ceremonies. These items could be made of shells, bone, wood, palm leaves, and sometimes gold.

What weapons did the Taino use?

The Taino were very skilled in the use of spears, bows and arrows, and clubs called makana. These had a dual purpose as weapons and as fishing/hunting tools. Pepper spray made from ground peppers was also used as a weapon.

How did the Taino protect themselves?

Taino villages needed to be ready to protect themselves from warriors from other villages at all times. Patrol parties regularly scanned the village borders for outsiders. Raiding parties were not uncommon, especially when resources were scarce or an outside community was on a bride capture. Supplies, resources, and people were at risk. Men and women both had responsibilities in protecting the village and were trained in weapon use. Guamo (conch shell trumpets) were made out of kobo (conch shells) by cutting off the tips and were used for communication and alarms.

What tools did the Taino use?

The Taino employed many tools in addition to weapons. Tools were made of stone, wood, bone, and shells. Manaia or stone celts were oval shaped stones attached to wooden handles and were used as knives, hammers, or axes. Spindles made of wood with a fish bone needle attached to the end were used to make thread from cotton fibers. The fibers were then woven into cloth. A buren is a special, flat tool made of clay used exclusively in the making of cassava bread. The clay disc was placed on stones in a fire and the cassava was baked on the surface.

How did the Taino heal themselves?

The Taino used many different herbs to heal themselves including peppers and mushrooms. These herbs were not cultivated but were gathered from the surrounding jungles. As the Taino traveled to different parts of their islands, they would intentionally drop the seeds of herbs and fruits for use on later journeys. Shamans (healers) were present in many larger communities. They were responsible for healing the sick. If a shaman was not available, there were members of the community who were also skilled in the use of herbs and healing remedies.

Did the Taino have a written language?

The Taino did not have a written language but had many symbols which were used to communicate ideas. These are noted especially in cave art, Cemis (representations of spirit beings), and on pottery.

What form of government did the Taino have?

There were three distinct social classes of Taino, the casikes, the nitainos, and the naborias.

Each village had a kasike or chief who was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the villagers life. He controlled trade and relations between villages, community resources, and received visitors to the village. He had the largest and highest quality dwelling and was highly respected. Most kasike were polygamous. The office of kasike was passed to a child of the kasike’s sister rather than the kasike’s own son. The title could be passed to either a man or a woman. In addition, there were more powerful kasike that held authority over other kasike of large areas or islands.

The nitaino were considered sub-chiefs who assisted the kasike. Each was responsible for overseeing a certain aspect of village life such as fishing, gathering, farming, and the building of new bohio.

The naboria were the general working class populace. They were assigned jobs by the nitaino as needed. There were many jobs performed by the naboria including hunting/gathering, fishing, field preparation, caring for crops, building bohios, child care, and food preparation.

Was there contact between the villages?

Trade was very important to a Taino community. Certain villages were very skilled in the making of cloth, pottery, or carvings. Others had many natural resources. Interior villages were able to grow large amounts of food whereas coastal villages were able to provide food from the sea. Trading parties were regularly sent between villages and even to South America to procure items that were lacking and to trade valuable resources the village had in excess. Trading practices were not always fair, with the larger villages and stronger kasike having the advantage.

What form of transportation did the Taino employ?

The Taino were very skilled in making kanoa (canoes) which were used to travel the river pathways between villages and between islands. Canoes were made by chiseling out the interior of large tree trunks. The largest canoe was owned by the kasike. It could carry up to 100 men and was elaborately carved with geometric designs. The Taino were expert seaman and used the sun and constellations to navigate on long journeys.

What forms of art did the Taino develop?

Pottery was a practical item and varied in its quality and appearance according to its use. Items designed for everyday use could be plain and of poor quality. Items used for spiritual purposes or by the kasike could be beautifully decorated and of very high quality. The coil method was used in the making of pottery. Snake-like coils of clay would be formed, laid on top of each other, and smoothed and molded into the desired shape for bowls. The coils were laid side by side for flat designs. The decorations were incised into the clay in geometric patterns or in the image of Cemi. Some villages were known for the quality of their pottery and it was highly valued as a trade item.

Cotton was grown and its fibers were stretched out and then made into thread with spindles made of wood with a fish bone needle on the end. A spindle was held in each hand as the the cotton was twisted into thread. The thread was then woven into cloth. The Taino had the ability to dye the cotton into many different shades of color, subtle and bright, using various plants. The highest quality cloth was used by the kasike and nitaino. Cotton was used to make clothing, fishing nets, and hammocks.

Many items were also carved out of wood and stone, some highly valued. Duho were a type of stool used by kasike. These could be made of either wood or stone and often had gold inlay. The quality of the duho was related to the reputation of the kasike. Many kasike had more than one duho. Cemi were representations of spirit beings or ancestors and were highly valued. These were also elaborate carvings made of stone or wood.

Did the Taino enjoy music?

Music, singing, and dancing were important features in areito, the Taino ceremonies and other village festivals. They employed rattles, maraka, and drums called maiohuakan, which were made of hollowed tree trunks. The drums were made in different sizes to produce different pitches. Children began to learn to play these instruments when they were young. Many of these instruments are still used today.

How did the Taino protect themselves from hurricanes?

Hurricane season runs from July through November and these storms were a great concern to the Taino. A severe hurricane could destroy entire villages. Ruined crops could mean starvation for the village. The constellations and shadows on the ball courts indicated when hurricane season was beginning. The Taino watched the birds and animals for indications that a hurricane was imminent. The birds would fly to the safety of other islands before the hurricane hit.

In preparation for a hurricane, supplies and items that could be moved were taken to caves for protection if nearby caves were available. Items too big to be moved would be secured to prevent loss. The villagers would weather the storms in caves if at all possible, sometimes remaining inside the cave for days at a time. A ceremony would be held before and after the hurricane to honor the storm.

Did the Taino worship a god?

Spirituality was very important to the Taino. In fact, separating it from daily life would be impossible. The Taino honored cemi representations made of wood or stone, which were thought to have control over crops, weather, and many other aspects of life. There were many different shapes and designs of cemi and these were prized possessions. The Taino also honored their ancestors and in many cases kept the bones of the deceased in a basket in the roof rafters of their bohio.

The Taino would inhale kohoba, an organic hallucinogenic, to induce a state of mind that would facilitate communing with the cemi to get answers to questions or to ask for assistance. Before partaking of the kohoba, the body was purified by inducing vomiting. The kohoba was then inhaled through tubes made of bones or wood.

Areito were religious festivals that included storytelling, dancing, feasting, and music that were performed in honor of the cemi. People of the village would prepare themselves for the festival by painting their bodies with dyes made from plants, feathers, and jewelry. The religious leaders and the kasike would wear beautiful capes adorned with parrot feathers. Often neighboring villages would be in attendance.