AY Honors/Taíno Culture/Answer Key

Taíno Culture

Skill Level

1

Year

2019

Version

27.11.2024

Approval authority

Puerto Rican Union

1

Do the following:

1a

Collect at least 10 items related to the customs of the Taínos. They can be originals, replicas, a photo collection, handicrafts and other artifacts. It can be a group collection, which should be varied with at least three objects from each participant.

1b

Visit a museum or indigenous settlement where different aspects of the Taíno culture are exhibited, or see an exhibition with objects from the Taíno culture. Discuss with your group what interested you the most and why.

You can visit the Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts Site in Utuado, the Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center in Ponce, the Indigenous Museum in the Science Park of Bayamón, the Las Américas museum in the Ballajá Barracks of Old San Juan, and others that have extensive representation of the Taíno culture.

2

Define at least 10 of the following words:

2a

Archaics

It means "the oldest" in reference to the first indigenous people who inhabited the island of Puerto Rico hundreds of years ago. After the archaics, the Taíno culture was established.

2b

Yucayeque

Name that was given to the villages. It was a community of huts; a Taíno aboriginal home.

2c

Cacique

Chief of the yucayeque.

2d

Caney

The house of the cacique.

2e

Conucos

Farm or area dedicated to agriculture.

2f

Guanín

Medallion or special adornment worn by the cacique on his chest.

2g

Bija

Name of the annatto plant used for coloring.

2h

Nagua

Small skirt for the married Taíno women.

2i

Areyto

Religious holiday or feast of the village.

2j

Nitaínos

Warriors, distinguished class with leadership roles.

2k

Bohíque

Priest and healer.

2l

Naborias

This was the working class.

2m

Guasábaras

Indigenous wars.

2n

Coatí

Dog that can't bark.

2o

Taínos

An extinct Arawak people formerly inhabiting the Greater Antilles and the Bahamas. The word "taíno" meant "noble, lord."

3

Mention 10 typical foods of the Taínos.

Mamey	Papaya	Tamarind	Soursop
Cassava	Sweet potato	Peanuts	Corn
Frogs	Fish and sea turtles	Iguana meat	Hutias (a species of squirrel)
Pineapple	Guava	Chili pepper	Blue land crabs

4

Mention the names of five caciques.

Some caciques were:

• Urayoán
• Mabó
• Cacimar
• Guarionex
• Guamaní
• Daguao
• Agüeybaná
• Arasibo
• Orocovix
• Aramaná

5

Mention five physical characteristics of the Taínos.

• Dark, elongated eyes
• Wide, flattened nose
• Copper-colored skin
• Short
• Stocky and well-built body.
• Straight, black hair
• They had no beard or mustache

6

What is a petroglyph? Draw two figures related to the Taíno culture.

A petroglyph is a drawing made in stone that represents the images of their gods or their beliefs. Below are some examples from the Taíno culture.

You can find more symbols here.

7

Mention four materials they used for their housework.

• Guayo: grater made of palms and stones to grate
• Burén: Large clay plate for cooking cassava
• Guariquitén: Clay container to knead the cassava
• Dujo: Throne or special seat of the caciques

8

Mention two religious beliefs of the Taínos.

• They believed in many gods, they were polytheists
• The ceremonies were conducted by a bohíque (priest or shaman)
• Its main god was "Yocahú", a protector god who lived in "turey" (heaven)
• They represented other minor gods through "zemis"
• In many of the "zemies" they placed pieces of bones of famous warriors or chieftains
• They believed in evil gods like "Juracán", god of the cyclone winds
• They believed that people got sick from the presence of evil spirits
• They believed in life after death; when someone died, they placed pots of water and food, and personal items on the grave, to use in the afterlife
• When the chief died, he was given a very special burial, and his favorite wife was buried alive next to the chief; this act was considered an honor

9

Which of the Taino religious beliefs are practiced today?

Review the beliefs and comment on them. It can enhance the reality that the concept of "god" has reached all parts of the world. Religious life is part of social and family life. When there are no noble guidelines and principles, religion takes human forms, full of superstitions as in indigenous cultures. Christianity is based on the love of God - The Creator, His mercy and forgiveness, and His hope in a new life. Many of these concepts are found in indigenous beliefs: hope, life after death, reward in the hereafter, and faith in rituals, among others.

10

Name 10 Taíno words that are still used.

In much of the Caribbean Spanish lingo, these words are still used:

Hamaca	Macana	Juey	Batea	Barbacoa
Cabuya	Güiro	Bohío	Camuy	Yuagua
Yagua	Taíno	Batey	Canoa	Yuca
Jíbaro	Tereque	Guarapo	Maraca	Guayo
Iguana	Sabana	Enagua	Chin

References

• Wikipedia: Taíno People
• Meaning of Taíno Symbols