Carriacou has once again demonstrated it is archaeologically rich in historical artefacts and is a prime place for research in the archipelago of the Caribbean. This is evident as a 33 member team from the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands recently completed a one month excavation here, as part of a six year on going research project.
Archaeological research has uncovered prolific artefacts and brought new understanding of historical culture on the island of Carriacou
The directors of the program are Quetta Kaye from the UK, Scott Fitzpatrick from the USA and Michiel Kappers from the Netherlands. They all described the exercise as truly educational.
“Unusual numbers of burials and very interesting and rare pottery were discovered” said team leader, Kaye.
The area in Carriacou where the team spent most of their time, is the Grand-Bay area which is located to the eastern side of the island, along the coastline. The team stated that this particular site has the greatest concentration of artifacts and it is an extremely educational area for those who are the field of archaeology.
The research is changing the knowledge base of how the inhabitants of Carriacou lived in pre Columbian times. Researchers have uncovered pieces of pottery, tools, animal bones and even some human remains helping to understand the life and times of the Amerindians. Following the findings, the team visit the Carriacou Historical society where the items discovered are cleaned, washed, labeled, sealed and packed away at the same venue. Many of the findings are now housed at the Carriacou Historical Society Museum where they can be viewed.
The yearly research and discoveries by the visiting team has helped to propel Carriacou Island into a desirable destination for archeological research.
The team also appreciated the beauty of this 13 square mile island with its wonderful views and turquoise seas against the beautiful back-drop of Petite Martinique. Carriacou is an attractive place to conduct research and foreign archaeologists are increasingly interested to come, not only because of the fruitfulness of the research uncovering many artifacts, revealing more about the way of life of pre-European Amerindians, but because of the delightful surroundings.
The visit also allows the team to enjoy the social life of Carriacou which certainly adds another dimension to the one month stay. A special get together is arranged at the end of the program which is always an enjoyable time for the team. A prize is awarded for the top archeological student on the tour. This latest research has further enhanced the reputation of Carriacou as the ideal place for teams wanting to do research in the field of Archaeology.