
This work offers a clear, scholarly tour through the ancient roots of the island now known as Puerto Rico. Beginning with the geological forces that shaped the Caribbean archipelago, it explains how the islands once formed part of a larger continent and presents the mineral riches and cave systems that still bear silent witness to those distant ages.
The author then turns to the earliest human occupants, drawing on fossil records, stone‑tool assemblages, and early ethnographic collections. Readers learn how the island’s first peoples crafted tools from stone and clay, fashioned gold ornaments, and organized their societies long before written history arrived.
Finally, the book weaves together the competing theories about the origins and migrations of the island’s indigenous groups, highlighting the debates among 19th‑century scholars. By the end of the first act, listeners will have a solid grasp of the natural and cultural foundations that set the stage for the later chapters of Puerto Rico’s story.
Language
es
Duration
~8 hours (468K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
San Juan: Tip. Boletin mercantil, 1907.
Credits
Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)
Release date
2024-03-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1850–1930
A pioneering Puerto Rican historian and physician, he helped preserve the island’s past through wide-ranging research and writing. His work remains closely tied to the study of Puerto Rico’s history, folklore, and public life.
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