Editing Aruba (section)

==== Political units and governance ====
The Caquetío territory consisted of several small political units that were under the authority of lower "second-tier chiefs" who were subordinate to the highest authority.<ref name=":1" /> How the central authority was exercised over the units is not clear. However, there are reports from the contact period that suggest the diao did not exert his power over the lower units in arbitrary manner. Likely there was a form of consultation between the diao and lower leaders. In the 16th century, two sub-units, the [[Guaraní people|Guaranos]] and [[Amuay]]es, lived on the Paraguaná Peninsula.<ref name=":02" /> Aruba, which is less than 30 kilometers away from Paraguaná, was previously connected to one of these units.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Oliver, J.R. (1997). "Dabajuroïd Archaeological, Settlements and House structures: an overview from mainland Western Venezuela". ''The Archaeology of Aruba: the Tanki Flip Site'' (A.H. Versteeg & Rostain ed.). Aruba: Archeological museum, no. 8. {{ISBN|978-99904-85-20-2}}</ref>
[[File:Aruban-pot-AKw-541.jpg|thumb|<!-- This is how the pot is described at the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam.  -->Aruban pot (before 1881). Colonial records often give a one-sided perspective on the indigenous heritage. Original inhabitants of the Caribbean had many languages and cultures. And there was considerable exchange of ideas and produce. — [[Wereldmuseum Amsterdam|Tropenmuseum]]]]
After the diao and the regional sub-units, such as the mentioned Guaranaos an Amuayes in Paraguaná, the village formed the third level of governance in the hierarchy of the chiefdom. Aruba had (not simultaneously) five villages: three larger ones Ceri Noca ([[Santa Cruz, Aruba|Santa Cruz]]), Tanki Flip ([[Noord]]), and [[Savaneta]], and two smaller ones near [[Tanki Leendert]] and [[Parkietenbos]], which have not yet been systematically studied. The location of Aruban villages varied. They were situated in places where beneficial agriculture land was available and where the most favorable [[Hydrology|hydrological]] conditions prevailed, such as where several ''rooi'' ([[Gully|gullies]]) came together and where relatively much water was available.<ref>Versteeg, A.H. (1991a). ''Toen woonden indianen op Aruba''. Aruba: Publications of the Archaeological Museum, no. 3.</ref><ref name=":2" />