Paleogeographic Perspectives on the First Landfall of Columbus

Paleogeographic evaluation supports the Samana Cay Columbus landfall theory. Despite traditional efforts based on navigational criteria, the identity of the Bahamian island on which Columbus first made landfall in the New World, and of the others visited by him before reaching Cuba, remains enigmatic. Beyond commemorative considerations, the inability to determine wherein the ethnographic and environmental observations made by Columbus apply significantly hinder our ability to fully utilize this early American historical record. Paleogeographic reconstructions have not been adequately pursued in connection with the landfall debate. Comparisons between current physical and ecological features and those described by Columbus have been used to argue between the two leading landfall candidates: San Salvador (Watling Island), the most popular prospect, and Samana Cay. Such comparisons rest on the implicit assumption that the present characteristics of the islands have remained unchanged during the past 500 years. Evidence is presented in this paper, based on integration of paleoclimatic, geological, archeological, and historical data of hemispheric, regional, and local scale, which indicates that environmental conditions on the islands have changed substantially since 1492. Attempts to identify the first landfall of Columbus should consider the implications of these changes.