TheSaladoid culture is apre-ColumbianIndigenous culture of territory in present-dayVenezuela and theCaribbean that flourished from 500 BCE to 545 CE. Concentrated along the lowlands of theOrinoco River, the people migrated by sea to theLesser Antilles, and then toPuerto Rico.

This cultural classification comes from adding the suffix "oid" to the sites where these unique pottery styles were first recognised; thus the name Saladoid, from name of the modern settlement of Saladero, is used by archaeologists to identify the peoples of the early ceramic age.

The Saladoid period includes four subcultures, defined by ceramic styles.

• Hacienda Grande culture (250 BCE–300 CE)
• Cuevas culture (400–600 CE)
• Prosperity culture (1–300 CE)
• Coral Bay-Longford culture (350–550 CE)^[1]

This culture is thought to have originated at the lowerOrinoco River near the modern settlements ofSaladero andBarrancas in Venezuela. Seafaring people from the lowland region of the Orinoco River migrated into and established settlements in theLesser Antilles,Puerto Rico, andHispaniola.^[1] They displaced the pre-ceramicOrtoiroid culture. As ahorticultural people, they initially occupied wetter and more fertile islands that could best support agriculture. It is believed that they spoke anArawak language.

Between 500 and 280 BCE, they migrated to the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico, eventually making up a large portion of what was to become a single Caribbean culture. In Puerto Rico, evidence of their historic settlements is found mainly in the western part of the island. InSint Eustatius broken pottery, bone, coral, stone, shell tools, and remains ofmalocas were found at theGolden Rock archaeological site.^[2]

Saladoid people are characterized by agriculture, ceramic production, and sedentary settlements.^[1] Their unique and highly decorated pottery has enabled archaeologists to recognize their sites and to determine their places of origin. Saladoid ceramics include zoomorphic effigy vessels, incense burners, platters, trays, jars, bowls with strap handles, and bell-shaped containers. The red pottery was painted with white, orange, and black slips.^[1]

Distinctive Saladoid artifacts are stone pendants shaped like raptors from South America. These were made from a range of exotic materials, including such ascarnelian,turquoise,lapis lazuli,amethyst, crystalquartz,jasper-chalcedony, and fossilized wood. These were traded through the Great and Lesser Antilles and the South American mainland until 600 CE.^[1]

The Saladoide were displaced by theBarrancoid people in the West Indies. In many regions, they disappeared by approximately 700 CE.

• Indigenous peoples in Venezuela
• Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean
• Pre-Columbian cultures
• Extinct Indigenous peoples of the Americas

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• Short description matches Wikidata