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Chers amis, membres de l'Association.

Grace avotre soutien, cette annee aura ete marquee par la reprise du chantier de fouilles programmees sur Ie site de Hope Estate sous la direction scientifique de Dominique Bonnissent. apres une annee d'arret pour cause "meteorologique'. Notre Association qui est desormais reconnue par la communaule scien­tifique travaillanl dans la Caraibe est de plus en plus encouragee par les visiteurs de Saint-Martin qui appre­cient Ie travail de mise en valeur de notre patrimoine atravers les collec­tions du Musee "Sur la trace des Arawaks·· Alors que Ie soutien financier du Ministere de la Culture a ete inexis­tant cette an nee pour cause de rigueur budgetaire. nous avons obtenu une autorisation de fouille sur trois ans. qui se tradllira par une synthese des connaissances acquises sur Ie sile de Hope Estale depuis les premieres recherches demarrees il y a 10 ans. La Commune de Saint·Martin. ainsi que notre fidele membre bienfaiteur M. Mc Govern ont celte annee encore apporte leur contribution financiere au projet. Nos actions ne se sont pas limitees aI'archeologie et nous avons pris en charge l·entre­lien et la mise en valeur du Fort Louis pour Ie Conseil General de Guadeloupe qui en est proprietaire. Un inventaire et une classification de rhaltital traditionnel de SI Maliin a egalemenl ete realise anotre demande et un projet de restaura­tion de la sucrerie de Spring est en cour d'elaboration. Vous decouvri­rez atravers ce Bulletin numero 6 Ie compte rendu des activites de notre Association pour ran nee passee. Si VOliS souhaitez vous joindre anous ou participer financierement a la realisation de nos objectifs, n'hesitez pas anous contacter et avenir nous rencontrer. La protection et la mise en valeur du Palrimoine sont !'affai­rede tous.

rENT

Dear friends, members of the Association.

Thanks to your support, this year will have been marked by the resumption, aher a year's interrup­tion for "meteorologicar reasons, of the programmed excavations on the Hope Estate site under the scientific leadership of Dominique Bonnissent. Our Association. herein recognized by the scientific commu­nity working in the Caribbean, is increasingly encouraged by the per­sons visiting Saint-Martin who appreciate the work highlighting our patrimony through the collections of the Museum "On the trail of the Arawaks" . Whilst financial support from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs was inexistant this year for reasons of budgetary strictness, we obtained a three year period excavation autho­risation, which will be expressed by a summary of the knowledge acqui­red on the Hope Estate site since the first research begun 10 years ago. The Commune of Saint-Martin as well as our faithful benefactor, Mr Mc Govern, brought us their finan­cial contribution to the project once again this year. Our actions are not limited to archaeology and we took responsi­bility for showing Fort Louis to its advantage and upkeeping it. on behalf of the General Council of Guadeloupe, its owner. An invento­ry and a classification of the traditional habitat of Saint-Martin was also carried out at our request. and a plan for the restauration of the Spring sugar factory is presently being elaborated. In this Sixth Bulletin, you will discover a report of our Assoclation's activities over the past year. Should you wish to join US or to participate Financially in the realisation of our goals, do nol hesitate to contact us and to come meet us. The protection and highlighting of Ollr Patrimony are everyone's COllcenl.

Archeologiquement votre, ArchaeologicaJly yours, Ie President c. HENOCQ

---- '

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R. & J GORDON Mc GOVERN F RODRIGUEZ·LOUBEr

J HAVISER EWING

M. RODRIGUEZ

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F ANAIS

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F BERNARD

R BESSLER

D. BONNISSENT

V. BOULFROJ

B. BOYRARD

A CALDADO

J. CANET

FX CHAUVIERE

J. CHOISY

P CHOISY

M. CHOISY

LCHOISY

GCOUGHLAN

J. DAVIS

M. DE BOUCAUD

V DELAUGEAS 1 K. DELORME

A DELDEVERT

GDELDEVERT

IE. DUBOISMILLOT

J-P. DUFAIT

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M.GAMIETTE

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H. PARISIS

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M. PETERSEN

M. PETIT

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A RICHIER

N. SERRAND

H. SILHOUETTE

E. SISSLER

C. SOBAMEA

C. STOUVENOT

D VILLEMEN

M. VILLEMEN

F. VIOTTY

N. WEYDERT

t' Association Archeologlque Hope Estate remercie tous ceux qUi ont contribue aux pr0jets de 1')<)7

L'Europe La Direction Region"le des Affaire" CltlllIl,'lh Le Conseil General de Guadeloupe I.., ((1111111\111" til' :-dilll M,,11l11

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S/\INT MARTIN Cedex F.W.1. TeI0590.2922.84

Olr, dll publication: Franr;ois Petit Mllqulltle: Gilles Caramante 'mpresslon: SI.Barth, Offset

H' ISSH: 1242-0263 Couverture:

II(lUlI,"' IIlOdelee (adorno) Hope Estate

How TO MAKE•••

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COMMENT ~ 1 oz. Grand Marnier liquor

PHEPAREIL•• 1 oz. Jose Cuervo tequilla 1 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice

. . .~/ ] Fill a tall glass with Ice. Add

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Tell us something we didn't know.

Rell1plissez un 'velTe (I'Vec des ,4Ia~olls. (~;oHtez

de fu teqllil!a Jose Glle)~"O,

dll JIIS de citronfrais et, bien silr. du Grunt! /vlarnier. cur celafera 'Votre Jv!urgurita digne de 'Votre fJim ~mlt.

Et Irwintelwnt c'est tres simple. seCOltCZ ce melange.

Si 'VOHS pndjerez 'Votre boisson plHS sttcree, uJolltez dl! sucre ii 'Votre ,4oi'tt,

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4 4

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Fouille aHope Estate. Digging al Hope Estate.

T

structures d'habitat et des trous de poteaux afin

d'dablir Ie plan des huttes et Carbets aujourd'hui

disparus De janvier aseptembre 1997, Elodie

SissieI', ingenieur geometre topographe, a effec­

tue pour Ie compte de l'Association un

recensement et une typologie de I'habitat tradi­

tionnel saint-martinois. Son memoire. qui fera

I'objet dans les annees avenir d'une publication

destinee au grand public. devra etre complete et

servira de base ades propositions de protection

sous forme de classement ou d'inscription aux

Monuments Historiques. Une demande sera

adressee au Ministere de la culture afin de termi­

ner Ie recensement. L'habitat traditionnel

saint-martinois etait d'ailleurs Ie theme

retenu cette annee pour les journees

Nationales du Patrimoine au COUl'S des­

quelles ont ete organisees une

conference-debat a la Bibliotheque

Municipale et une exposition dans Ie

Musee de Marigot. Enfin I'annee 1997 aura ete I'occasion de participer au 170mc

Congres International d'Archeologie

Caribeenne organise a Nassau,

Bahamas, au mois de juillet. Alors qu'au­

cune des lies franco phones de la cara'ibe

n'etait presente, Saint-Martin comptait

trois representants venus exposer les resultats de

leurs dernieres investigations aleurs collegues

archeologues. Ce fut I'occasion d'etablir des

contacts et de rencontrer Miguel Rodriguez,

,1rcheologue porto-ricain ayant participe a la

cdmpagne de fouilles de 1994, et d'envisager la

venue d'etudiants de "Universite de Puerto-Rico

('11 1998. Les projets pour I'annee prochaine ne

IIli\llquent pas et nous comptons sur Ie soutien

dl' la communaute toute entiere afin de faire

II'vivre ce patrimoine millenaire pour les genera­

II' 1I" futures.

Au cours de celie i:Jnnee encore,

l'Association Archeologique

Hope Estate s'est efforcee de

developper ses actions vel's Ie public

afin de faire decouvrir a tous la richesse

du patrimoine archeologique et historique de

I'ile de Saint-Martin. Apres les journees du patri­

moine organisees autour du theme de I'industrie

sucriere et de la sucrerie de Spring au mois de

novembre, nous avons finance la realisation de

moulages des deux roches gravees se trouvan t a St Martin au cours du mois d'octobre 1996. Ces

copies sont maintenant visibles dans Ie Musee

"Sur la trace des Arawaks )I. Des Ie mois de

fevrier 1997, la campagne de fouilles program­

mees sur Ie site de Hope Estate battait son plein

sous la direction de Dominique Bonnissent,

avec une equipe renforcee comportant 10 archeologues professionnels secondes par de

nombreux benevoles. Cette annee, la campagne

s'est axee sur la cartographie des depots archeo­

logiques et la carte que nous avons realisee nous

a permis d'implanter des sondages au coeur de

differentes couches depotoirs renfermant de

nombreux vestiges. Ces sondages etant implan­

tes au centre des niveaux les plus epais de ces

zones de dechets, ils ont permis d'obtenir un

echantillonnage de ceramiques dans un etat de

conservation exceptionnel. On peut dire que

I'annee 1997 aura ete celie des ceramiques et

plusieurs formes completes ont de reconsti­

tuees. La journee portes ouvertes traditionnelle

a battu tous les records d'affluence puisque envi­

ron 700 personnes ont pu decouvrir les

dernieres trouvailles au cours de visites gUidees.

L'un des objectifs de la prochaine campagne qui

devrait s'etendre du mois de fevrier au mois

d'avril 1998 sera de decaper la partie centrale

du plateau dans Ie but de mettre au jour des

ACTIVITES THE ACII',w'Y',r

DE L'ASSOCIATION Of JHE ASSOCIA TION

Activitie!i g6-g7

During this year again. the Hope Estate Archaeological Association attempted to deve­

lop its actions to the attention of the public so as to unfold to one all the richness of the archaeological and historical patrimony of the island of Saint-Martin After the National Patrimony Days organized around the theme of the sugar industry and the Spring sugar factory. during the month of November, we financed the making of moulds of two engraved rocks found in Saint Martin during the month of October 1996. These copies are now visible in the Museum "On the trail of the Arawaks ". As soon as February 1997, the programmed excava­tions campaign on the Hope Estate site was at its height under the leadership of Dominique Bonnissent. with a strengthened team comprising 10 professional archeologists assisted by many volun­teers. This year. the campaign was aimed at mapping the archeological sediments and the map we establi­shed enabled us to set up the test pits in the middle of the different midens containing large quantities of remains. These test pits were set up in the centre of the thickest levels of these waste areas, and allowed us to obtain a sampling of ceramics in an exceptional state of preservation One can say that 1997 will have been the year of ceramics and several complete forms have been reconstituted The traditional open house day registered record attendance with approximately 700 people being able to discover the most recent finds during the guided tours One of the aims of the next campaign, which will stretch from February to April 1998. will be to uncover the central part of the plateau revealing the habitat and post holes struc­tures, so as to establish the plan of huts and primitive shelters which have since then disappeared

F"IJII till' 11/1'/1111 ,'I 1011111,1/\' to that of September 1997. flot/il'Si'.'!.'r /rIl" 1<lr<l/ll)('r surveyor engineer. carried olll, 011 bdldlJ (1111)(' A,.'ocialion. an invento­ry and typology vi 'he /r.Jt/itional Saint-Martin habitat. Her memoir. Ivhid; Ivill collsritute. in the for­thcoming years, the basis (i( d publishing to the attention of the public. will be completed and will serve as a basis for protection proposals in the form of classification or registration by the French Historical Monuments Institute. A request to this e{{ect will be sent to the Ministry of Cultural A{{airs in order to finish the inventory. Moreover. the traditional Saint-Martin habitat was the theme chosen this year for the National Patrimony Days during which a conference-debate was organized at the Municipal Library and an exhi­bilion was set up at the Marigot Museum Finally. 1997 will have been the year during which we had the opportunity of participating in the 17th (nternational Congress of Caribbean Archeology. organized at Nassau. in the Bahamas. during the month of July Whilst no other French-speaking island of the Caribbean was represented. Saint­Martin was present there, with three specialists informing their colleagues in archeology of the results of their most recent research This was an opportunity of establishing contacts and encounte­ring Miguel Rodriguez. a Porto Rican archaeologist who had taken part in the 1994 excavation campai· gn and of considering students from the University of Puerto Rico coming during 1998. Projects (or next year are numerous and we count on the support of the entire community to enable this millenial patrimony to live again for the genera­tions to come.

~[AJ~M [B][l][D][EJ

La Chaussure Femme Rue du General De Gaulle-Marigot 97150 Saint-Martin .. Tel: (0590) 8711.03

6

~Kodak RESS - ~~.. OUAl/Tl'M,:.-= ~ON'TOA:~GSER\'1CE

Marina Photo

DiapositivesPhofOfH. Noir&Blanc

Photos identitees

Cartes de visites Tete de letlres

-quetles adhesives Fairepart " Tampons

Gravure

Marina Royale - Marigot ({) 0590 87 88 18

MOULAGE MOULDING

DES ROCHES GRAVEES OF 7.HE ENGRAVED ROC],

Les gravures rupestres prtkolombiennes sont assez

repandues dans les lies de la Carai"be. A Saint-Martin, no'existe que deux

roches gravees repertoriees. La premiere se situe dans la ravine

Paradis, aI'Ouest de Quartier d'Orieans pres du puits de Moho. La

seconde a ete decouverte eu 1988 sur Ie site archeologique de Hope Estate.

Les gravures representent dans les deux cas des visages reduits iii leur

expl'essioo la plus primitive et representes par des depressions au

niveau de la bouche et des yeux. Parmi les petroglyphes de la roche de Hope

Estate, iI semblerait que Ilune des representations soit une tortue de

mel'. Ces gravures representaient des divinites, esprits ou aocetres, pour les

populations indigenes, et leurs emplacements correspondent it des

lieux ou devaient se derouler des ceremonies religieuses.

«.. Preparation de la coque en fibre de verre.

Preparing the Fiberglass s/Jell.

a localisation de ces roches les rendait peu accessibles au public. notamment pour les

enfants et les personnes agees. c'est pourquoi ['Association Archeologique Hope Estate a decide de realiser des moulages des petroglyphes afin de les presenter au Musee de Saint-Martin. Ces moulages ont ete realises par Eric Pelissier de l'Association Arawak-Caraibes. seconde dans sa tache par Corinne Pecot. membre de l'Association Hope Estate.

Le moulage consiste en une suite d'operations complexes qui permet d'obtenir une copie la plus fidele possible de la piece originale La prise d'empreinte s'effectue aI'aide de produits chimiques et de catalyseurs Apres preparation de la surface a ['aide d'un agent demoulant. la roche est badigeonnee avec une resine siliconee souple qui durcit en sechant. Le moulage peut parfois etre realise en plusieurs pieces qu'il faudra assembler par la suite. Une fois la membrane souple mise en place. on procede a la fabrication d'une coque en resine rigide accompagnee de fibre de verre. Lorsque toutes les couches de resine sont consolidees. on procede au demou]age et au remontage des differentes parties afin de positionner Ie silicone souple dans Ie contre-moule rig ide pour eviter to ute deformation.

B

L'etape suivante consiste en la realisation du fac-simile egalement appele tirage positif. Cest I'operation la plus delicate qui determinera la qualM de la copie. Des essais de coloration a I'aide de divers pigments sont tout d'abord realises sur de petits echantillons afin d'obtenir une couleur la plus proche possible de la roche originale. Une fois les pigments selectionnes, ils sont ... projetes sous forme de demoulage de I'empreinte en silicone.

Unmoulding the silicone copy.taches et incorpores dans une resine qui est Preparation des pigmentsenduite a I'interieur du du contre-moule. contre moule. Celte Preparing the pigments couche de resine est in the counter mould.

ensuite consolidee par p]usieurs autres 1(', fTliJlllag.!, dl!& deux auxquelles on incor­ rocl,e~ gr'lvel!' ric Silint

pore de la fibre de MMIIII 0111 11f'(,{,~~hP I ~O

verre. La copie est hell[C" ,I ~ lr,JVdil .11J I'lai. II, ensuite demoulee, 50nl III, nh'fli'lll eX[1"'('('

delicatement patinee et illlS I( "'lll .Ii M\15:'1' UI'

nettoyee. :Vlarlgol « Sm Id Iracp df'~

AfiJ\\!<ik,>':> (1l\111 I" I ,[cli~1T d, ~ '" lOllS I", viSllel.IT' E. PELISSIER~

~~[Fl~~[R1[R1~O~ LMU~[R1~[L~ Etude et realisation pour tous travaux de Marbre et Granit

Cuisine _ Equipement salle de bain MIEU ROUX

Grand-Case -97150 St.Martin - Tel: - 0590 -873249- Fax: - 0590 -87 32 58 Bergevin - 97110 Pointe aPitre - Tel: - 0590 -87 32 49 - Fax: -0590 -87 32 58

Champigny -97224 Ducos - Tel: - 0596 - 770944 - Fax: -0596 - 770945

9

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OUWBEDRIJF OVEN WINDEN

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SERVING SINT-MAARTEN FOR OVER 25 YEARS CONCRETE SAND GRAVELS

BlOCKS CEMENT BOULDERS

10 11

The following step consists in making the facsimile, also called positive copy. This is the most delicate process which will determine the quality of the copy. Colouring tests using various pigments are first carried out on small samples in order to obtain the closest possible colour of the original rock. Once the pigments have been selected, they are, in stain form, thrown and mixed into a resin, which is then used to coat the inside of the counter-mould. This coat of resin is

then hardened by several others in which fiberglass is included. The copy is then delicately removed from the mould, polished and cleaned.

TlJe mouldings of the fwo erlyral'ed rocks 0

Saint·Marlin re,/uired a tolal of 120 hOUfS 0

Illork. They an.> IlOU' Oil ex1lilJit ill thl.> hall of the Mariyol Museum "On the trail of tl'e Ardwaks" for /lIe pleasure ofalJliisi/ors. Eric Pelissier

Demoulage de la copie Unmoulding the copy.

SUZUKI ·w

illDura-

Defined Sensibility

SUII N.V. Longwall Road ------

Philipsburg • Sint Maarten • Phone: 22 3'8/23065

Precolombian engraved rocks are rather commonly found in the Caribbean islands. In Saint­Martin, there are only two engraved rocks listed. The first of these is located in Paradise ravine, West ofFrench Quader, near Moho wen. The second rock was discovered in 1988 on the archaeologjcal site of Hope Estate. In both cases, the engravings depict faces reduced to their most primitive exp."ession and represented by hollows for the mouth and eyes. Among the petroglyphs of the Hope Estate rock, it seems as ifone of the images could be a sea turtle. These engravings portrayed deities, spirits or ancestors, for the indigenous populations, and their locations correspond to sites where religjous ceremonies probably took place.

T he location of these rocks made them rather inacessible to the public, especially

children and old people; that's why the Hope Estate Archaeological Association decided to have mouldings of these petroglyphs made in order to exhibit them at the Museum of Saint­Martin. These mouldings were carried out by Eric Pelissier, of the Arawak-Carai'bes Association, assisted in this task by Corinne Pecot, member of the Hope Estate Association.

The moulding consists of a series of complex procedures enabling one to obtain a copy of the original item as identical as it can possibly be. Taking off the print is carried out using chemical products and catalysts. After having prepared the surface using a substance enabling the mould to be removed, the rock is brush-covered with a supple silicon resin that hardens when it dries. The moulding is

sometimes carried out in several parts, to be assembled afterwards. Once the supple membrane is positioned, a rigid resin shell is made, on which fiberglass is applied. When all the resin coats have hardened, one unmoulds and puts the different parts back together again so as to reposition the supple silicon in the rigid counter-mould to avoid all deformation of the cast.

i- --

Hache en lambi. Conch axe.

The 1997 Hope Estate excava­

DE LA COQUILLE ARCHEOLOGIQUE FROM mE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SHELL

AUX GESTES QUOTIDIENS DES ARAWAKS TO mE DAILY PRACTICES OF TIlE ARAWAKS

lui

'" ~

La campagne de fouille de 1997 it Hope Estate a, nne fois

encore revele de nombreux restes d'invertebres marins parmi Ie materiel archeolo­

gique exhume. Les multiples sondages ouverts dans ce qui

correspond aux anciennes aires de depotoir de I'occupa­

tion viIIageoise ont livre, cette annee, plus de 23 000 restes de mollusques et de crustaces

(pres de 125 kg).

Ces nombreux restes temoignent clairement de la part non negligeable jouee par les mollusques et les crustaces dans Ie regime alimenlaire des occupants de Hope Estate acote des poissons, mammiferes marins, petits mammiferes et oiseaux terrestres. L'ensemble de ces ressources animales representait un apport riche en proteines, dans un regime sans doute do mine par la consommalion de tubercules domesliques leis que Ie manioc. II esl encore delicat, cependant, d'apprehender la part respective de ces diverses ressources terrestres / marines, animales / vegetales, en I'absence de donnees quantitatives concretes concernant notamment la consommation d'alimenls vegelaux En eifel, les seuls indices archeo­logiques de la consommation de manioc sont

1i! 13

'1

tion campaign, once again, revealed numerous remains of marine invertebrates amongst the archaeological material unearthed. The many test pits opened up in the places that correspond to the old midden areas of the viHage's occupa­tion have revealed more than 23 000 remains ofMoHuscs and of Crustaceans (over 125 kg) this year. These numerous remains are clear proof of the important role played by the Molluscs and Crustaceans in the diet of the occupants of Hope Estate, besides that of Fish, marine mammals, small terrestrial mammals and birds. All of these animal resources represent a rich protein intake in a diet in which the consumption of domestic roots such as manioc is undoubtedly predominant. However, it is still too soon to delimit the respective portions of these various resources - terrestrial/marine, animal /plant, in the absence of truly significant quantitative data especially regarding the consumption of vege­tables Indeed, to this day, the only archeological indications of the consumption of manioc are, indi­rectly, the cera'mic gridles on which large pancakes, made of this root, were probably cooked (as is done nowadays by many Amerindian groups of the South American continent).

8, ,­

Even so, the mass of information accumulated since the first Hope Estate excavations campaigns allow us to better determine the characterictics of the diet of the site's occupants and, beyond that, the strategies they implemented for their exploitation of the territo­ries and the resources offered by the island of Saint Martin For example, many sites. located in Saint Martin or Antillean. show that, for the Arawaks, the conch represented both the largest edible Gastropod and a source of raw material from which to make various objects. However, one can see this shellfish is rather poorly represented in Hope Estate. Could it be pos­sible that the occupants of the site have disdained the

,

conch. the flesh of which is so appreciated even nowadays (!) ? It is quite possible that the explana­tion for this "anomaly" is the large distance existing between the site and the habitat and gathering sites of this Gastropod. Indeed, let us recall that the Hope Estate site is located inland approximately 2 km from the coast, from Orient Bay to the East, or from Grand Case Bay to the West. It is thus likely that the Arawaks, after having gathered the conch from the seagrass beds of the marine shallows, extracted the animals from the cumbersome shells and threw the latter away to sea or on the seashore Only a few empty shells, having qualities sought by the Arawaks (thickness, size, resistance, .. .), must have been ..

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selected and kept to be brought back to the vil­lage at the same time as the flesh. These few shells were then used as raw materials. on site, to make tools and parts of adornments. In fact. the great majority of conch remains found at Hope Estate corresponds to fragments cut up during the shell crafting. One can thus see that the gathering of Molluscs involves many strategic choices avoi­ding. for example. the transport of excess 5 material over a distance of a few kilometers (a .1.'

Perles discojdes et pyramidales. Discoid and pyramidal beads.

case of many bivalves which are most often solely represented by only one technologically-changed specimen. This is also the case of a fresh water bival­ve specimen that is probably exogenous to the island of Saint Martin. It is astonishing what a small shell can teach us and already many leads have been discovered, possibly enabling us to better understand the lifestyles and means of subsistence of the occupants of Hope Estate...

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conch with 150 grams of flesh will bear a shell weighting, alone. nearly 1kg) The conch shells fished today are still thrown back to sea for the most part. unless they are gathered for their aesthetic or commercial value. Moreover. many heaps of empty shells can be seen below the water level near the beaches. and such heaps, of Amerindian origin. are known to exist on other Antillean shores If the larger Gastropods such as the burgo (Cittarum pica) and the conch (Strombus sp) were the two Molluscs n:ost eaten by the Arawaks. one can also observe that a vast array of different species was included in the diet (more than 80 different samples identified) This diversity reminds us of the variety of marine environments exploited: sandy areas on the seashore. or on whitish shallows, mangroves and underwater seagrass beds, rock and coral areas in

shallow waters, and rocky environments of the inter­tidal littoral; the two latter are also the biotopes most intensely exploited by the occupants of Hope Estate. The above observations therefore suggest that it is still very dimcult to precisely determine the percenta­ge of Mollusc consumption, when the only trace - the hard and perennial shell - may have been disposed of elsewhere than on the occupied site excavated. In any case, the Hope Estate site. which is the object of long term excavations and which has revealed a considerable quantity of material, enables us to bet­ter understand these past realities and to improve

Grattoir en porcelaine. Cypraea scraper.

our observations as we continue to make new disco­veries. In this context. the long stratigraphy of the site allows us to observe variations in the frequency of certain Molluscs or Crustaceal1S within the various cultural levels noticed For example, one can observe that certains terrestrial species of Crustaceans. subject to intensive exploitation during the Early Saladoid per­iod are less represented in the more recent periods of occupation. The exploitation of marine (and ter­restrial) invertebrates was not therefore always of the same intensity and the abandonment of some resources to the advantage of others. or the diversifi­cation of the panel of biotopes exploited, corresponds to as many changes in the means of subsistence of the Arawaks. We are trying to unders­tand the cultural and natural phenomena related to these changes and, thus. better determine the econo­mic management modes used on the island environments. We are also able to approach another fundamental aspect of the Arawaks' life through the shell remains; the shell of many species was an ideal material for the making of useful objects and for paris of orna­ments. The polished axes made of conch, the porcelain "scrapers" (Cypraea), the cups made of burgos (Citarrium pica) and the "scrapers" made of Bivalves are admirable proof of this. Once more, this

14

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year, we counted several hundreds of millimetric discoid and pyramidal beads, beautifully polished and pier­ced made of Chama (Chama sp.), Conch or Pecten (Pecten sp.) , and also fine mother-oi-pearl pendants, a small engraved tablet, and small Olive (Oliva sp) bells A certain number of these worked objects are still enigmatic for us and one of the approaches of archaeology is sometimes to ''get down to doing things (I)" the most recent campaign lent itself to the experimental making of shell beards to learn more about the tech­nology of the Arawaks and the possible role of the various objects found. If some shells constituted both a food resource and a technological one, others were only selected for their aesthetic qualities and to be tral1Sformed: such is the

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a ce jour, indirectement. les platines en cerami que sur lesquelles etaient sans doute cuites de larges galettes pnlparees a paltir de ce tubercule, comme Ie font aujourd'hui de nombreux groupes amerindiens du continent sud-americain, Malgre tout, la masse d'informations accumulees depuis les premieres campagnes de fouilles a Hope Estate permet de mieux apprehender les caracteristiques du regime ali menta ire des occupants du site et au dela, les stra­tegies qu'ils ont mises en oeuvre pour exploiter les territoires et les ressources offertes par 1'lle de Saint­Martin, De nombreux sites des Antilles et de Saint-Martin montrent que Ie lambi, par exemple, repnlsentait pour les Arawaks a la fois Ie plus gros gasteropode consommable et une source de matieres premieres pour la fabrication d'objets divers, Pourtant, on observe qu'it est assez mal repre­sente a Hope Estate, Les occupants auraient-i1s dedaigne Ie lambi, dont la chair est aujourd'hui tou­jours autant appreciee(l) ? II y a fort a parier que I'explication de cette "anomalie" tient plus dans I'eloi­gnement du site par rapport aux lieux de collecte de ce gasteropode, Rappelons en effet que Ie site de Hope Estate est situe a I'interieur des terres, a pres de deux kilometres de la cote de Baie Orientale, a I'est, ou de la Baie de Grand-Case, a J'ouest. II est donc probable que les Arawaks, apres avoir collecte les lamb is sur les prairies d'algues des fonds marins, ont extrait les animaux de leur coquille encombrante et s'en sont debarrasse en mer ou sur Ie littoral. Seules quelques unes des coquilles videes, presentant les qualites recherchees par les Arawaks (epaisseur, taille, resistance",), ont du etre sectionnees et conser­vees pour etre ramenees en meme temps que la

chair jusqu'au village. Ces quelques coquilles ont alors ete utilisees sur Ie site, com me matiere premie­re pour la fabrication d'outils et d'elements de parure. De fait, la grande majorite des restes de lam­bis retrouves a Hope Estate correspond a des fragments debites lors du travail de la coqUille. On voit donc ici que la collecte de mollusques implique de nombreux choix strategiques evitant par exemple Ie transport de matiere excessive sur quelques kilo­metres (un lambi ayant un poids de chair de 150 9 porte une coquille pesant a elle seule pres d'l kg). Aujourd'hui encore, les lambis peches sont pour la ptupart rejetes en mer, a moins que I'on ne leur accorde une valeur esthetique ou commerciale. De nombreux am as de coquilles vides peuvent d'ailleurs etre observes sous I'eau a proximite des plages et de tels amas d'origine amerindienne sont connus sur d'autres littoraux antillais. Si les gros gasteropodes tels que Ie burgo (Ciltarum pica) et Ie lambi (Strom bus sp.) etaient les deux mollusques les plus consommes par les Arawaks, on observe aussi qu'un vaste cortege d'especes diHerentes etait integre dans Ie regime alimentaire (plus de 80 taxons differents identifies). Cette diversite renvoie a la variete des milieux marins exploites: zones sableuses en bord de plage ou en fonds blancs, mangroves et prairies d'algues sous-marines, zones de rochers et de coraux en eaux peu profondes et milieux rocheux du littoral intertidal; ces deux derniers constituent d'ailleurs les biotopes les plus intensement exploites par les occu­pants de Hope Estate. Ces observations suggerent cependant aussi qu'il reste tres difficile d'evaluer pre­cisement I'imporlance de la consommation des mollusques, quand I'unique vestige, la coquille dure et perenne, peut avoir ete rejetee ailleurs que sur Ie site d'occupation fouille. Quoi qu'il en sOit, Ie site de Hope Estate, qui fait I'objet de fouilles a long terme et qui a livre une masse conSiderable de materiel fournit I'occasion de mieux approcher ces realites passees et d'affiner nos observations, au fur et a mesure des nouvelles decouvertes. Ace titre, la

longue stratigraphie du site perme! d'observer des variations dans la frequence de certains mollusques et crustaces au sein des divers niveaux culturels dis­tingues. On s'apercoit, par exemple, que certaines especes terrestres de crustaces qui ont fait I'objet d'une exploitation intensive durant Ie Saladoide Ancien, sont bien moins representes dans les periodes d'occupation plus recentes. L'exploitation des invertebres marins (et terrestres) n'a donc pas toujours eu la me me intensite et I'abandon de cer­taines ressources au profit d'autres, ou la diversification du panel de biotopes exploites corres­pondent a autant de modifications des modes de subsistance des Arawaks. On tente de comprendre les phenomenes culturels et naturels qui sont en jeu et, ainsi, de mieux apprehender les modes de gestion economique des milieux insulaires II nous est aussi possible d'approcher au travers des restes coquilliers un autre aspect fondamental de la vie des Arawaks: la coquille de nombreuses especes constituait un materiau ideal a la fabrication d'objets utilitaires et d'elements de parures. Les haches polies en lambi, les grattoirs en porcelaines (Cypraeal, les tasses en burgos (Cittarium pica) et les grattoirs sur bivalves en temoignent admirablement. On a denombre encore cette annee plusieurs centaines de perles millime­triques disco'ides et pyramidales admirablement po lies et percees en chame (Chama sp.), Iambi ou pecten (Pecten sp.), mais aussi de fins pendentifs en nacre, une petite tablette incisee et des sonnailles en

Molusque d'eau douce importe aSt.Martin. Fresh water mollusk imported in St. Martin.

olives (Oliva sp.). Un certain nombre de ces objets travailles nous reste enigmatique et I'une des approches de I'archeologie est parfois de "mettre la main a la pate" I La derniere campagne a donc donne lieu a la fabrication experimentale de haches et de perles en coquille, pour mieux comprendre la technologie des Arawaks et la fonction possible des divers objets retrouves Si certains coquillages ont constitue a la fois une ressource alimentaire et tech­nologique, d'autres n'ont ete selectionnes que pour leurs qualites esthetiques et pour etre transformes. C'est Ie cas de nombreux bivalves qui ne sont sou­vent representes que par un unique specimen ayant fait I'objet d'une modification technologique. C'est aussi Ie cas d'un specimen de bivalve d'eau douce probablement exogene a I'ile de Saint-Martin. II est etonnant de constater ce qu'une petite coquille peut nous apprendre et d'ores et deja, de nombreuses pistes s'offrent a no us pour mieux com prendre les modes de vie et de subsistance des occupants de Hope Estate ...

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16 17

nubing (photo 2) or an oblong-shaped dish, entirely decorated with red earth paint designs. nubings and engravings. Test pit # 22 was made in a miden area also spotted

Two test pits were carried out in the large miden area bordering the plateau in its South-Western part. A test pit (# 24) was carried out at the extreme South of the miden area in which the archaeological levels are thin. The saladoid ceramic objects sup­

Test pit # 26 was set up on the Eastern slopes of the plateau, where an anomaly was discovered due to the resistivity map established by Christian Stouvenol. The test pit revealed a mass of blocks perhaps corres­ponding to the clearing of the stones from the plateau

The results of the micro-coring campaign, coupled with the data of the resistivity map, have enabled the layout, during this excava­tion campaign, ofsix test pits in the areas that appear to be the most interesting ones.

Atest p.it (# 20). carried out in the sepulchral area. allowed us to delimit its extent to the

North. as corresponding to an area modified by the path's tracing at the discovery of the site. A few frag­ments of human bones without connections were observed. The recent Saladoid sediments of this area uncovered a rich mass of archaeological mate­rial and in particular. ceramics. It was possible to reassemble some items, for example. a bowl with an outwards-curved rim, decorated with circular geo­metrical motifs, engraved and painted red (photo 1) One also notices the presence of more usual forms such as a bowl decorated with red earth paint and a

--..-.-.­18

by micro-caorings. This waste area is located in the North-Western area of the site. The archaeological levels revealed ceramic objects belonging to the Cedrosan-saladoid subserie. Some elements are remarkable. particularly as zoomorphic adorno covered with red earth paint. which was to be set onto the edge of a pot, representing the head of a duck (photo 3). We were able to restore a large-sized jar (photo 4) Its form is streamlined, and shows a typically Saladoid outwardsturned edge. ornamen­ted with a large, wing-shaped handle, fastened vertically on the edge of the vase. /t is possible a second wing-shaped handle was symmetrically pla­ced on the opposite side of the jar. having both a decorative and prehensile role. A new miden area (test pit # 23) was discovered on the North-Western edge of the plateau. in a steeply­sloped position. The miden area show a low density of archeological material. The ceramics are altered and the analysis of the sediments indicates modifica­tions in their locations due to the steep slope.

plied, amongst other things, an anthropomorphic adorno (photo 5) The # 25 test pit, set up in the middle of the miden area, revealed a rich mass of objects of the late saladoid period. One finds there classic forms such as the streamlined jars, with out­wards-edges, painted with red earth, oval dishes with a hanging fixture (photo 6) and also less usual forms such as a jar with a tubular pouring spout and a handle decorated with a nubing (photo 7) A series of plates, the inside of which is sometimes decorated with complicated designs illustrates the decorative richness of the late saladoid period's repertoir (pho­tos 8 and9).

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when the amerindian houses were set up there. This sector uncovered a miden strata containing ceramics of the Huecoid type. The most characteristic elements correspond to elements of decoration ornamenting oval vases with "two holes" (photo 10 and 11). A series of pots that were not decorated has allowed us to confirm and complete this ceramic collection, already observed in previous years. Our vision of the occupation of Hope Estate site is becoming finer. The next campaigns will be directed towards the characterisation of the miden areas not yet studied and of the central pal1 of the plateau, in the aim of clearing away possible post holes corres­ponding to amerindian houses. Dommique Bonnissenl.

Les resultats de la campagne des micro­carottages couplee aux donnees de la carte de resistivite ont permis d1implanter,Iors de cette campagne de fouiIles, six sondages dans les zones presentant Ie plus d1interet.

Un sondage (20), realise dans la zone sepulcrale a perm is de delimiter son etendue au nord, cor­

respondant a une zone remaniee par Ie trace du chemin lors de la decouverte du site. Quelques frag­ments d'os humains sans connexion ont ete releves. Les depots du salado'ide recent ont livre dans cette zone un riche mobilier archeologique et particuliere­ment cerami que. Quelques pieces ont pu etre remontees, par exemple une jatte a levre ourlee deco­ree de motifs circulaires geometriques incises et peints en rouge (photo 1). On note aussi la presence de formes plus courantes comme un bol a engobe rouge et decore d'une papule (photo 2) ou un plat ovale ega­lement enduit d'un engobe rouge et decore de papules et d'incisions. Le sondage 22 a ete implante dans un depotoir egale­ment repere par micro-carottages. Ce depotoir est situe dans la partie nord-ouest du site. Les niveaux archeologiques ont revele du mobilier ceramique appartenant a la sous-serie Cedrosan-saladoide. Quelques elements sont remarquables, en particulier un adorno zoomorphe recouvert d'un engobe rouge, devant etre fixe sur Ie bord d'un pot, representant une tete de canard (photo 3) Une jarre de grandes dimen­sions a pu etre restauree (photo 4) La forme est carenee, elle presente une levre ourlee typiquement salado'ide, elle est ornee d'une oreille de grande dimension fixee verticalement sur Ie bord du vase. II est probable qu'une seconde oreille eta it disposee 'v11ld riquement sur cette jatte, ayant a la fois un role

decoratif et de prehension. Un nouveau depotoir (sondage 23) a de repere sur Ie bord nord-ouest du plateau, dans une zone presen­tant un fort pendage. Les couches depotoirs presentent une faible densite en mobilier archeolo­gique. La ceramique est alteree et l'analyse des depots indique des remaniements lies a leur situation sur une forte pente. Deux sondages ont ete implantes dans la grande zone depotoir enserrant Ie plateau dans sa partie sud-ouest. Un sondage (24) a ete effectue a l'extremi­te sud du depotoir ou les niveaux archeologiques sont peu epa is. Le mobilier ceramique salado'ide a fourni, entre autre un adorno anthropomorphe (photo 5) Le sondage 25, implante au centre du depotoir, a revele un riche mobilier du salado'ide recent. On y retrouve des formes c1assiques comme les jattes care­nees a bords ourles peints en rouge, les vases ovales a bouton de suspension (photo 6), mais aussi des formes moins courantes comme une cruche a bec tubulaire et anse decoree d'une papule (photo 7) Une serie d'assiettes, dont I'interieur est parfois deco­re de motifs complexes illustre la richesse decorative du repertoire salado'ide recent (photo 8 et 9) Le son­dage 26 a ete implante sur les pentes Est du plateau, a I'emplacement d'une anomalie reperee grace a la carte de resistivite eHectuee par Christian Stouvenot. Le sondage a mis en evidence un amas de blocs cor­respond ant peut-etre a l'epierrement du plateau lors de l'installation de maisons amerindiennes. Ce sec­teur a revele une couche depotoir contenant de la ceramique de type Hueco'ide Les elements les plus caracteristiques correspondent a des elements de decoration ornant les vases ovales "a deux trous" (photo 10 et 11). Une serie de pots non decores permet de confirmer et completer cet assemblage ceramique, deja observe les annees precedentes. Notre vision de I'occupation du site de Hope Estate va en s'affinant. Les prochaines campagnes vont s'orienter vers la caracterisation de depotoirs encore inedits et de la fouille de la partie centrale du plateau dans Ie but de degager d'eventuels trous de poteaux

Dominique Bonnissent

20

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Vue aerienne de Hope Estate. Aerial view of Hope Estate.

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de Hope Estate

AI'occasion de la campagne de fouilles de 1997, dirigee par Dominique Bonissent, nous avons

effectue une exploration systematique du site: une carte topographique complete a ete realisee par Damien Mayer et Elodie Sissler, topographes de l'Association, qui ont egalement implante 7 plots de reperage en plus des 7 plots existants. Le plan a ete mis au propre atitre gracieux par Ie cabinet de geo­metres Pivetta, aMarigot. Une carte des depots archeologiques a ensuite ete realisee sur I'ensemble du site a I'aide d'une technique nouvelle speciale­ment mise au point acet effet les microcarottages. Cette technique consiste aextraire des echantillons de sediment al'aide d'un tube de 2 cm de diametre que I'on enfonce par battage dans Ie sol. Les echan­tillons sont extraits par passes de 10 cm. Pour chacune on note la couleur du sediment, la presen­ce eventuelle d'artefacts (ceramique) ou d'ecofacts (coquillages, crabe, charbon de bois, os, etc..), de blocs... Cette methode, tres simple, est particuliere­ment rapide: 200 microcarottages ont ete realises en 10 jours par 2 personnes. Ces sondages ont ete realises suivant une maille d'environ 10 m de cote, permettant ensuite une visualisation sous forme de cartes de repartition des depots archeologiques et de leur contenu. II apparait nettement sur la carte que les depots se localisent sur les pentes Est et Ouest du plateau, ils forment vraisemblablement une ceinture autour des villages amerindiens succes­sifs. Tous les sondages realises en 1997 ont ete implantes d'apres les resultats de cette investigation et tous ont confirme les cartes de repartition. Cette methode s'avere donc particulierement efficace pour la localisation des depots archeologiques. La carte de resistivite electrique realisee I'annee dernie­re a egalement ete utilisee pour I'implantation du

i!5

Christian Stouvenot etfectuant un microcarottage. Christian Stouvenot doing a Micro-core.

sondage 26 a j'emplacement d'une anomalie de forte resistivite: une accumulation de blocs y a ete decouverte, pouvant etre interpretee comme Ie resultat de I'epierrement du plateau au cours de l'ins­tallation du village amerindien. L'ensemble de ces resultats a de presente au cours du 17eme Congres International d'Archeologie de la Cara"ibe qui s'est tenu au mois de juillet aNassau, Bahamas. Ces don­nees seront egalement utilisees pour I'implantation des sondages de la campagne de fouilles de 1998, notamment pour I'investigation sur les nouvelles zones de dechets, la partie centrale du plateau (trous de poteaux eventuels) et les anomalies de resistivite lineaires (zones a blocs)

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Bloc accumulation discovered in pit 26.

Implantation des carottages pari by E. Sissler & D. Mayer.

Implantation of cores.

Hope Estate site

D uring the 1997 excavation campaign, led by Dominique Bonnissent, we carried out a sys­tematic exploration of the site: a complete

topographic map was established by Damien Mayer and Elodie Sissler, topographers of the Association, who also set up 7 reference points, on top of the 7 existing points. A fair copy of the plan was drawn up by the Pivetta office of surveyors in Marigot. A map of the archaeological sediments was then carried out for the entire site, using a new technique, spedally set up for this purpose: micro­coring. This technique consists of extracting samples of sediment using a 2 cm-diametre tube that we drive into the soil by beating lightly upon it The samples are extracted by 10 em passages: for each one, we note the colour of the sediment, the possible presence of artifacts (ceramics) or ecofacts (shells, crab, wood coal, bone, ... ), of blocks, ... This very simple method is particularly quick: two hun­dred micro-cores were carried out over a period of ten days, by two people These forings were carried out according to a layout comprised of units approximately 10 meters on their side,

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Depots archeologiques "en place" dans Ie sondage 25. Undisturbed archaeological deposits in pit 25.

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then allowing a visualization from distribution maps of the archaeological sediments and their content. On the map (page 24), one can clearly see that the sediments are located on the Eastern and Western slopes of the plateau: they probably form a belt around the successive Amerindian villages. All the test pits carried out in 1997 were set up following the results of this investigation and all of these confirmed the distribution maps This method thus proves itself particularly useful in the location of archaeological material. The electric resistivity map established last year was also used to set up test pit # 26 at the place at which an anomaly of strong resistivity was noted: an accumulation of blocks was discovered there. that could be interpreted as

due to the clearing of stones from the plateau during the set-up of the Amerindian village there.

27

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ArtR~U ~UR lt~ INDU~IRlt~ AGUMPS,

UIHI~Ut~ OF J1IE STONE·WORKmG INlJUS1JllES

Frant;ois-Xavier Chauviere

La campagne de fouiUes 1997 sur Ie site de Hope Estate a livre, pour sept des huit sondages effec­tues, plus de 5000 pieces lithiques presen­tant des modifications d'origine anthropique (soit plus de 191 kg).

A I'instar des campagnes precedentes, on remarquera parmi I'ensemble du materiel

precolombien, la diversite des matieres premieres utilisees (radiolarite, gres, silex, basalte, andesite, "diorite",calci-rudite, calcite, quartz, etc.). A ce titre, on peut noter que les modes d'jntroduction de ces differentes matieres sur Ie site ne sont pas uni­formes. En effet, il existe des materiaux comme la radiolarite (materiau local) ou tous les stades de fabrication des objets sont attestes (depuis les blocs de matiere bruts en passant par les ebauches jusqu'aux outils finis, en I'occurrence des lames de haches et des "percuteurs"). En revanche, des pieces comme les perles tubulaires en "diorite" (matiere allochtone) arrivent directement a l'etat fini sur Ie site.

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Cheque a l'ordre de Association Archeologique Hope Estate

28

Hache aencoches

Parmi les objets les plus spectaculaires mis au jour cette annee, on peut mentionner une lame de hache aencoches Entierement polie, fabriquee en andesite, la piece est brisee au niveau du tranchant. Cet objet a bien evidemment fonctionne emman­che. Les deux encoches suggerent d'ailleurs un emmanchement juxtapose ou la lame de hache est accolee au manche et maintenue alui par des liens etjou des matieres adhesives Ce type d'outil n'est pas unique a Hope Estate puisque deux autres exemplaires ont ete retrouves lors des fouilles pas­sees. Des pieces identiques sont egalement connues, tant archeologiquement qu'ethnologique-

Notched axe.

ment, jusqu'en Guyane. D'autres objets bien particuliers doivent etre signa­les. lis proviennent de la fosse d'epoque coloniale decouverte cette annee. IJ s'agit de trois pieces de silex aisement identifiables quant aleur utilisation: des pierres afusil. L'une est fabriquee dans un silex blond opaque, une autre dans un silex noir legere­ment bleute. La troisieme piece est brCIiee. C' est la premiere fois que ce type d'objet est decouvert a Hope Estate. Une etude plus detaillee de ce mate­riel si specifique permettra peut-etre d'apporter des precisions d'ordre chronologique concernant cette occupation coloniale.

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29

AGLIMPSE Of mE STONE·WORKING

DUSTRIES The 1997 excavation campaign on the Hope Estate site revealed more

than 5000 items made of worked stone, presenting changes of

anthropic origin (thus more than 191 kilogrammes) for seven out of

the eight test pits carried out.

Perles en Diorite Diorite beads.

-' • I _

I l ~

L ike the previous campaigns, one can see the diversity of raw materials used (radiolarite,

sandstone, silex, basalt. andesite, diorite, calci-rudi­te, calcite, quartz, etc.. ) in all the precolumbian material found. On this subject, one can see that the ways in which these various raw materials were introduced on the site are different from each other. Indeed, materials such as radiolarite (a local material) exist, in which all the stages of manufactu­re of the objects are present (from the gross blocks of raw materials, via the rough models, up to the finished objects; in this case, the axe blades and "strikers"). On the other hand, items such as the tubular beads made of "diorite" (a stone foreign to the island) arrive to the site as directly finished objects. Amongst the most spectacular objects revealed this year. we should mention a notched-blade axe. Entirely polished, made of andesite, the item is broken up at the blade's edge This object was obviously used connected to a helve. The two notches also suggest a juxtaposition of the helve. the axe blade being attached to the helve by ties and/or adhesive materials This type of tool is not unique to Hope Estate since two other specimens were found during past excavations. Identical items are also known to exist. both archaeological­Iy and ethnologically, as far as French Guyana. Other. very special objects must be brought to light They come from the colonial-period trench discovered this year. These are three pieces of flint the use of which is easily identifiable gun flints. One is made of a blond, opaque silex, another is made of black, slightly blueish silex The third item is burnt. It's the first time that this type of object is discovered at Hope Estate. A more detailed study of this such specific equipment will perhaps enable us to bring forth chronological-type precisions regarding this colonial occupancy.

2 pierres alusil, provenant de la lose d'epoque Coloniale. 2gun stones excavated in the colonial trench.

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Sepulture datant de 450 apres J.C. decouverte en 1995. Burial dating 450 A.D. excavated in 1995.

3i!

Mr A. Fleming, maire de 51. Martin decouvrant Ie resultat de fouilles en 1992. M A. Fleming, Maire de St.Martin observing the archaeological finds in 1992

arly in the month of September 1987. an unexpected and important discovery provo­

ked, as the years went by, an awareness of the existence of a rich archaeological patrimony in the island of Saint Martin. Works carried out, using a bulldozer, by the Petit family. on their Grand Case property, next to an old sugar factory called Hope uncovered a huge quantity of remains comprising ceramics decorated with painted and engraved motifs, crafted shells, stone tools and beads and human bones. Because the owners bore interest in all that regards the history of Saint-Martin, the works were immediately interrupted, thus protec­ting the major part of the buried remains. That same year, an American archaeologist, Jay Haviser, was carrying out an inventory of the archaeological and historical sites on the island on behalf of the Netherlands Antilles Anthropological and Archaeological Institute. Informed of this exceptional discovery by Fran~ois Petit and Roland Richardson, Jay Haviser then reque~ted an authori­sation from the Mayor of Saint-Martin and was the first archaeologist to carry out a test pit on the site hence known as Hope Estate. This test pit revealed the existence of two or three successively deposited cultural levels the oldest of which could be dated at 350BC One year later, in 1988, the Director of Antiquities of Guadeloupe, having been notified of these disco­veries, a prospecting test pit campaign was begun in order to evaluate the limits of the extent of the .

Au debut du mois de septembre 1987, une decouverte importante et inattendue a provo­

que au fil des ans une prise de conscience de I'existence d'un riche patrimoine archeologique dans 1'Ile de Saint Martin. Des travaux effectues par un bulldozer par la famille Petit sur leur propriete de Grand-Case, aproximite d'une ancienne sucre­rie appelee Hope ont mis a jour une grande quantite de vestiges comprenant des ceramiques decorees de motifs peints et incises. des coquillages travailles, des outlls et perles en pierre et des osse­ments humains. Grace a I'interet porte par les proprietaires a tout ce qui concerne l'histoire de Saint-Martin, les travaux ont immediatement ete suspendus, protegeant ainsi la majeure partie des vestiges enfouis. Celte 'meme annee, un archeo­logue americain, Jay Haviser effectuait un inventaire des sites archeologiques et historiques

sur l'ile pour Ie compte de l'Anthropological and Archaeological Institute of the Netherland Antilles. Averti de celte decouverte exceptionnelle par Francois Petit et Roland Richardson, Jay Haviser demanda aIors une autorisation au maire de Saint­Martin et fut Ie premier archeologue aeffectuer un sondage sur Ie site desormais connu sous Ie nom de Hope Estate. Ce sondage revela I'existence de deux ou trois niveaux culturels successivement deposes dont Ie plus ancien remonterait a350 ans avant J.C Un an plus tard, en 1988, Ie directeur des antiquites de Guadeloupe etant averti de ces decouvertes, une campagne de sondages de pros­pection demarre afin de delimiter I'extension des depots archeologiques. Sous la direction de Henri Petitjean-Roget et de Jay Haviser, une equipe de 4 archeologues et de quelques amateurs travailIe pen­dant six semaines et de nouvelles datations font de ..

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• L1 't,s\a\e \,al.l\l\es a "aile Estate. Digging at Hope

archaeological finds. Under the leadership of Henri Petitjean-Roget and of Jay Haviser, a team of 4 archaeologists and a few amateurs worked during six weeks and new datings established Hope Estate as the oldest ceramic containing Precolumbian site of all the Caribbean. A figurine representing a dog was discovered in a layer dated 550 Be This figu­rine later became the emblem of the Museum of Saint-Martin and a stamp bearing its effigy was printed in 8 million copies in 1996 Fearing that the research might stop at this stage through lack of interest shown by the Guadeloupean authorities, Mr Fram;:ois Petit and a few other persons sharing a passion for the history of Saint-Martin decided to create the Hope Estate Archaeological Association, during the month of September 1989. Since that date, the Hope Estate Association has organized archaeological research in our island, circulating the recent discoveries both to the public via the Association's annual Bulletin, and to the scientific community through the fnternational Congress of Caribbean Archaeology. The remains discovered are exhibited to the public in the Museum "On the trail of the Arawaks", ope­ned in 1991, on the initiative of the Association,

Premiers objets decouverts aHope Estate. First artifacts discovered at Hope Estate.

then in 1995. on that of the Commune with the financial support of the SEMSAMAR. Since the recent set-up of the new Regional Service of Archaeology, the Association carried out the first salvaging excavation ever to take place in the entire Guadeloupean archipelago in 1992, led prospec­tions on the sites of Norman Estate and Friar's Bay in 1993, and at Bay Rouge in 1994. The Association also organized the first scheduled plu­riannual excavation campaign on the Hope Estate site since 1993. Each year, between the months of January and March, archaeologists are active pur­suing researches on the oldest Amerindian village of the Caribbean: Hope Estate. CH

34

UII II 'lUll N.V.

35

1117

-I~

Hope Estate Ie plus ancien site precoJombien, ren­fermant des ceramiques, de toute la cara·ibe. Une figurine representant un chien est decouverte dans une couche datee de 550 ans Avant J.C Cette figu­rine deviendra par la suite I'embleme du Musee de Saint-Martin et un timbre ason effigie sera impri­me a 8 millions d'exemplaires en 1996. Craignant que les recherches s'arretent a ce stade par manque d'interet des autorites de Guadeloupe. monsieur Francois Petit et quelques personnes pas­sionnees par I'histoire de Saint-Martin decident de creer l'Association Archeologique Hope Estate en septembre 1989. Depuis cette date, I'association Hope Estate a organise la recherche archeologique dans notre ile. diffusant les dernieres decouvertes a la fois aupres du public par I'intermediaire du Bulletin annuel de l'Association. et aupres de la communaute scientifique a travers Ie Congres International d'Archeologie Caribeenne.

Les vestiges decouverts sont exposes a la disposi­tion du public dans Ie Musee « Sur la trace des Arawaks », ouvert en 1991, puis en 1995 sur I'ini­tiative de I'association puis de la Commune avec Ie soutien financier de la SEMSAMAR. Depuis I'instal­lation recente du nouveau Service Regional de l'Archeologie. I'association possede ason actif la premiere fouille de sauvetage effectuee dans tout I'archipel de la Guadeloupe en 1992, les prospec­tions menees sur les sites de Norman Estate et Anse des Peres en 1993, et aBaie Rouge en 1994. L'association a egalement organise la premiere fouille programmee pluriannuelle sur Ie site de Hope Estate depuis 1993. Chaque annee, entre janvier et mars, les archeologues sont a pied d'oeuvre pour la poursuite des recherches sur Ie plus ancien village amerindien de la Caraibe: Hope Estate. C rlENOCQ

Longwall Road Philipsburg • Sint Maarten • Phone: 22 318/23065

he traditional houses constitute an impor­tant part of the island's patrimony and, unforlunately, few of themallracts the allen­

tion of tourids, through lack of knowledge of it, but especially due to the fact that the traditional form of architecture is not often highlighted, A study, carried out mainly in the suburbs of Marigot and Grand Case, enabled the selling up, as a first step, of an inventory of the traditional habitat from the middle of the 19th Century to that of the 20th Century The oldest houses that are still "visible" were built

The Hope Estate Association does not confine itself to the

field ofarchaeology; it has once again extended its field ofaction by showing an interest for Saint

Martin's traditional house.

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36

around the 1850's, and. from 1940 onwards, tradi­tional materials and techniques disappear, giving way to a generation of concrete habitat, The aim of the investigation bore on researching the building methods and architectural characteristics of the traditional Saint Marlin house During this centwy,

Case traditionnelle recouverte d'essentes,

one finds two types of domestic habitats. the "wat­tels house', and the traditional dwelling. The wattles house is a house that seems imported from Africa. and it is actually found in Western Africa with variants. The wallels house is built on the ground, its structure is made up of woven branches picked from the 'bush'. and consolidated and waterproofed with a rendering. This rendering is made up with white­wash and sand. the whitewash was prepared locally from a basis of manchioneel wood. sandstone rocks or coral. The house was covered with sugar cane straws or corrugated iron sheeting. This type of house was apparently very often IIsed on the island as it required less expense both in milli power and in materials. A few specimens are found in the Subwll p/ (;/,11'.1 Case, one of these sheltering tllC II'dlk,/1I '/' "I

Lucien photo, on the seaside bOrtli'v'lril. In a similar manner, the traditiolkIIIIOlh,' d,'c,,'I"II,',1 and, unlike the wattels house, file! Idlll'! n'llltil'" ,'I"~

mentary knowledge of construc/i<'ll tlt/,';. "lid ,iI.;p

the purchase of imported materials, I'VI'n if ,'PI 1/1' n'

these can be second hand malerials. 7!i(' IllllI,.;(' or "case' (in French) is built on a ,tOllC.' {ldSt', 'II' on piles, raising it from the ground. Its structure, like ils panelling and its framework. are made up of wood, often imported from the United States or Canada,

37

Traditional dwelling covered with shingles,

The basic module of the case is composed of a room of 12 feet x 24 feet, divided by a partition. thus, i/

has a living space and one reserved to the Oc'ClI

pants' intimacy The furniture is generally vI'rv scanty, The facades or gables most exposed to 1,,11,1, weather conditions can be covered with shingle, "",I so can the roof. but most ollen the latter is (, 'I, "1'1

with corrugated iron sheeting The essential element of /lO{/1 o.;"i/ll /I'/lllill .1/1,1 Antillean IIOIN'-' i' IIII' ,(10111. 'I\" I", "I,','. '" /1,,' 111,1//1

facildr of Ill<' h"'I'" It h ,lihfl''! 11'11l'1I I"" 1111,11/1 l,tI

I/Ii'dlb llltlllll' Il/ill"lIv ""'llloI,,tl, ,,,,,',1111,'"'1/ 111/,'1 oillv 11.", ,I /In ,1,'11/1',' /I ,I" .I'I.III1"l III., ',1111 ,/lId ,1/1/

hI/I "/,,, oI"''''/,,} I"l,',,, 11,lIl'otlillll!','/II"o,'/I r{,,·,tll'l'I ,11/,111" ;1I111/1,1l1 ,t! 1/" ""1"1' /'''II/('II/,lI dtlt!/llion;s

,I, '\ "I, "II, I ih .I, 'II Iidli, II) , '!Ius, it ;, o/ien decorated Ilil/, I/ill',"'11>"',111'. ilill, ,mu flounces and balustrades I" I!J" ''l.N, ,,. or IhL' occupant (Jril r 011/ Jumire beautiful traditional houses, espe­rioll/y in Marigot, Rue de la Republique and on the Waterfront the seaside boulevard in Grand Case, in French Quarter and in ColombieI'. These are, in fact, the four oldest suburbs of the French part of the is/and ft is often difficult to recognize these houses. a house that appears recent on the outside can hide a completely transformed traditional one III

L'association Hope Estate ne se cantonne pas seulement dans Ie domaine de I'archeologie, eUe aune fois encore etendu son champ d'action en s'interessant it la maio son traditionneUe saint·martinoise.

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a maison traditionnelle represente une gran­

de partie du patrimoine de l'ile et attire

malheureusement peu I'interet des touristes,

certes par manque de connaissances, mais surtout

parce que I'architecture traditionnelle est peu mise

en valeur.

Une etude menee principalement dans les quar­

tiers de Marigot et de Grand-Case a permis dans

un premier temps de dresser un inventaire de

I'habitat traditionnel, de la moitie du XIXe siecle a celie du XXe Les plus anciennes habitations enco­

re "visibles" datent environ des annees 1850 et

I'on constate apartir de 1940 la disparition des

materiaux et des techniques tradition nels pour lais­

ser place ala generation d'un habitat de beton,

L'interet s'est porte a rechercher les methodes de

construction et les caracteristiques architecturales

de la maison traditionnelle saint-martinoise

Pendant ce siecle, on rencontre deux types d'habi­

tat domestique : la maison a gaulettes, la plus

ancienne semble-t-il et la case traditionnelle,

La maison a gaulettes appelee aussi "wattels

house", est une habitation qui semble avoir ete

importee d'Afrique et on la retrouve d'ailleurs dans

toute rAfrique occidentale avec des variantes, La

maison agaulettes est construite ameme Ie sol. sa

structure est un tressage de branches provenant du

'bush", que I'on consolidait et etanchait a I'aide

d'un enduil. Cet enduit est compose de chaux et

de sable; la chaux etant fabriquee localement a base de bois de mancenilier. La maison etait cou­

verte de paille de canne a sucre ou de toles, Ce

type d'habitation fut vraisemblablement tres cou­

rant sur ['ile car il engendrait un moindre cout tant

au niveau de la main d'ceuvre que des materiaux,

On en trouve quelques exemplaires dans Ie

Quartier de Grand-Case, I'un abrite I'atelier de

Lucien Photo, Boulevard de la Mer.

38

Parallelemenl. la case traditionnelle 'd d,'vl,h,p pee et contrairement a la maison a(;,11 dell,," ..Ill'

necessite la connaissance de regles elCllll'lltdil ,', de construction mais aussi I'achat de mellel ieW>: ill1[HIl

tes, meme si certains peuvent etre de reclIpcrali\J11.

La case est posee sur un exhaussemenl COllllXISl'

de pierres ou sur pilot is Son ossature comille son

bardage et sa charpente sont en bois, sOllvent

importe des Etats-Unis ou du Canada Le module

de base de la case est compose d' une piece de 12 par 24 pieds, divisee par une cloison, Ainsi elle a

un espace de vie et un d'intimite Le mobilier est

generalement tres sommaire, Les fa~ades ou

pignons les plus exposes aux intemperies peuvent

etre recouverts d'essentes, ainsi que Ie toil. mais Ie

plus souvent ce dernier est couvert de toles,

L'element essentiel de la case saint-martinoise

comme de la case anti liaise est la galerie situee sur

la fa~ade principale de la maison, Elle est rajoutee

quand les moyens financiers ne Ie permettaient pas

a la construction Elle a non seulement un role de

protection contre la pluie et d'abri au soleil mais

egalement un role social. transition entre la rue et

I'intimite de la maison On attache une importance

particuliere asa decoration, ainsi elle est souvent

ornee de dentelles, fanfreluches et balustrades au

'gout' de I'habitanl. On peut admirer de belles mai­

sons traditionnelles en particulier aMarigol. rue de

la Republique et en front de mer, boulevard de la

Galerie decoree de gingerbreads, Gatery decorated with gingerbreads,

Mer a Grand-Case, a Quartier dOrieans et a Colombier , en fail. les quatre plus anciens quar

tiers de la partie fran~aise de I'ile, II est parfois

difficile de les reconnaitre Une habitation qui

semble recente en apparence peut cacher une case

traditionnelie compldement transformee I

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39

----UNEFOSSECOLON~E

ACOLONIAL TRENCH vee la decouverte d'une fosse colonia Ie conte­nant du mobilier moderne, I'occupation du site

de Hope Estate s' etend desormais jusqu'a I' epoque coloniale Celte fosse reperee grace aux micro-caro­tages est situee dans la partie centrale du plateau. Elle apparait de forme approximative ovale, longue de 5 m et large de 3 m. Un sondage (21) y a ete implante transversalement. Le remplissage de la structure indique qU'il s'agit d'une fosse depotoir. II n'est pas exclu que ces niveaux depotoirs soient en position secondaire et que la fonction primitive de celte fosse corresponde a un abreuvoir pour les ani­maux ou a une reserve d'eau douce. Une fouille complete permettrait d'en definir la fonction avec certitude. Les niveaux archeologiques ont revele des tessons de gres de production rhenane et en particu­lier un fragment de "bouteille bellarmine" decore d'un medaillon representant un lion. Quelques frag­ments de pipes y etaient associes : des pipes en

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40

Pipe en argile Clay pipe.

Sandage 21

,.j ~

Test pit 21.

kaolin d'importation europeenne et des fragments de differents types. a pate beige ou brune. presentant parfois quelques fins decors par impression. Le mobilier metallique est compose de plusieurs ele­ments en fer un gond, un fragment d'outil et deux boucles de chaussure de module rectangulaire avec ardillon. On note aussi une balle de mousquet en plomb et une boucle de chaussure en bronze a double fenetre en huit. Cette boucle presente un trace en pointe aux deux extremites. Deux elements de tabletterie ont ete decouverts : un fragment d'aiguille a chas et une cote perforee de grand herbi­vore. Trois silex tailles, d'origine exogene et correspondant ades pierres afusil ont pu etre identi­fies. A ce mobilier etaient associes de nombreux ossements d'animaux dont la grande majorite cor­respond aune faune europeenne : boeuf, mouton, chevre, cochon. Celte occupation de I' epoque colo­niale est datee autour du 17e siecle, cette date pourra etre affinee avec I' etude precise du mobilier, actuellement en eaurs. Dominique BONNISSENT

I I

With the discovery of a trench conldillill!1

modern furniture, the occupation of IIi('

Hope Estate site is henceforth extendec/llp

to the Colonial period. This trench, discovered fly I/le

micro-earings, is located in the central part of the

plateau. It appears to be of an approximately ob/ollg

shape, 5 meters long and 3 meters wide. A test pil

(#21) was set up there, crosswise The filling of the

structure indicates that this is a trench used as a waste area It is not ruled out that these waste levels

be in a secondary position, and that the initial role of

this trench may have been that of a drinking trough

for the animals or a fresh water reserve. A complete

excavation would allow the definiton of its role with

certainty. The archaeological levels have revealed

earthenware pottery fragments of Rhenish produc­

tion and especially a fragment of "ballarmine bottle"

decorated with a medallion representing a lion. A

few fragments of pipes were associated to it: kaolin

clay pipes of European importation and fragments

of different types of beige or brown day, sometimes

Philipsburg

Marigot

41

,/e«lI"/"11 witll fine desi­

.'III;, IlIilll"11 on them. rill' /11('1,,1 ohj<'cts are ClJllslil/ilell of several

imll ebllcnls: d I,inge,

eI pdrl of 1001 elliellwo Fraumenl de boUleilie 'bdlarmlne". rec I d II 9ul a (-s hapeel FriJUl1J'lf1tof 'oollatmlll6" boltl6.

shoe iJuc1<les with their tongues One can also notice

a leael musket bullet and a bronze, eight-shaped,

double-windowed shoe buckle. This buckle shows

pointed ends in its design. Two needlework elements

were discovered: a piece of needle with an eye and

a pierced armour for a large-sized herbivore. It was

possible to identify three worked flints, of exogeno

origin, as gun flints. With these objects, many animal bone remains were found, the great majority of

which correspond to E. uropean fauna: ox, sheep,

goat, pig. This occupation of the colonial period can

be estimated to be of the 17th Century; this date will

be further sharpened with a precise sludy of the

objects, currently under way. Dominique Bonnissen!

L E MUS E E

.... Vue interieure du musee Inside view of the Museum.

.Illql.li,); 1""Jl"IJ!II' dl's plantations de canne

.1'\1('1',' ('I II" 1',,,,,,I.IV.1'!l'; I'inclustrie du sel et

1.1 viI' Ipll)li<li"llIlI' .III <I{'bllf dll 20""" siecle.

I (' Mil"',,, d,"nil "',\,l!I'IIlt'nl I'origine de

S.1illl M'lIlill :1 Il.lVI'lS 1,1 (;eologie et la

llIille) ,Ii,)(!ie lei definil les diffCrents milieux

ndlurels ct ccosysternes qlle 1'01'1 y ren­

contre. Enfin, Ie Musee propose a I'etage

une galerie d'Art ou divers artistes residents

ou visiteurs exposent leurs Cl:!uvres chaque

mois

En fait, il n'est pas obligatoire de visiter Ie

Musee uniquement si I'exposition est en

rapport avec Ie programme scolaire. La

visite du Musee est aussi une decouverte de

I'ile de Saint-Martin et reserve toujours des

surprises, meme a ceux qui estiment la

connaitre sur Ie bout des doigts.

Indiens d'Amazonie. 43 Amazonian Indians,

Dans Ie Musee, ils ont pu d(~C"IIVril

l'Histoire de Saint-Martin, a lrdv('" I""

vestiges archeologiques des poplll.1li"II"

amerindiennes dont I'implantation 1.1 plll~

ancienne remonte a 1800 ans dVLHlI ,Le , la colonisation de l'lle par les nCltions ('.1110­

peennes (espagnols, hollandais, frall(.1is,

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THE MUSEUM

On the trail of the ArawaKs

an education tool for schools' use Since its opening.

'ecember 5, 1994, the Mus ofSaint-Martin "On the trail of the

Arawaks" welcomed 14 000 ri,c-:­tors. ofwhich 3000 chHdren.

'ost of tlJem came there duriD_ their school hoUl'$. aa:ompanied

by their teachers, who lise the Museum's exhibitioos for edul'!lO­

oses.

I n the Museum, they were able to discover the History of Saint-Martin, through the archeological

remains of the Amerindian populations whose oldest settlement dates back to 1800 B. C. ; the island's colonisation by the European nations (Spanjsh, Dutch, French, English) : the time of the sugar cane plantations and slavery; the salt industry and daily life in the early 20th century. The Museum also describes the origin of Saint-Martin through Geology and mineralogy and defines Ule diffe­rent natural environments and ecosystems that one encounters there Finally, the Museum proposes an art gallery. upstairs, in which various resident or visi­ting artists exhibit their works each month. In fact, a visit of the Museum is not only restricted to when the exhibition there is related to the school cur­riculum It is also a discovery of the island of Saint-Martin and always has surprises in store for its visitors, even those who believe they know it like the palm of their hand.

Whether VOll arC! all adull (}r a child, if IOllr;;;1 (Jr a resldenl, the Museum "On the Irail of the I\rall'<lks" 'Pens its'lloMS to yuu all wC'ekdays, e.~cepl for SUI/day., from 9 a.m, 10 Tp.m. and {rom 3 !J.m. to 7

p.m. For any ;n{(Jrmation.. don't hesitate to call 0590 29 22 84.

I.mnrimerie TH'9FfSn

44

IVELCOME WELKOM WIIII(OMMFN 13IENVENJDA BENVENUTI

VOUS souhait

L'Office du Tourisme de SAINT MARTIN

Nos bureaux 'AINT-MARTIN: Auberge de Mer, Marina Royale-Route de Sandy Ground 97 150 Saint-Martin

Tel : (0590) 87 57 21/23 - Fax: (0590) 87 56 43 http://www.st-marlin.org - Email: sxmto@aol.com

PARIS: KPMG Axe Consultants - 12, rue de Madrid 75008 Paris, France Tel : 01 53 42 41 33 - Fax: 01 45 22 78 87

NEW-YORK: Marketing Challenges International Inc. 10 East 21 st Street, Suite 600 New York, NY 10010 U.SA

Tour Operators/Incentives: Tel: (212) 529 8484 - Fax: (212) 460 8287 Travel Agents: Tel. : (212) 3150888

Public: Tel : (900) 990 0040 ($050 per minute)

VENEZUELA: Elialei C.A. - Av. LiberLldor, Torre Maracaibo, Pisco 11 Oficina F, Cardcds, Venezuela,

Tel: (582) 762 6977 / 7620814/762 6S'2.7- Fax: (582) 761 5760