Zemi Artifacts in St. Martin

Zemi artifacts, which are three-pointed idols used in Taíno and Arawak religious practices, hold significant cultural importance in the archaeology of St. Martin.

These artifacts have been discovered at several key sites on the island, including Baie Rouge and Cupecoy Bay, offering valuable insights into the spiritual and ceremonial aspects of the island’s pre-Columbian cultures. The discovery of a coral zemi at Baie Rouge, documented during the archaeological reconnaissance by M.P. Sypkens Smit and A.H. Versteeg in the early 1980s, highlights the central role of these artifacts in the daily and ritualistic lives of the island’s inhabitants.

Another notable find was a stone zemi at Cupecoy Bay, uncovered during excavations led by J.B. Haviser in the 1980s.

Zemis were believed to embody spiritual beings or ancestral spirits and were often used in religious ceremonies and as symbols of authority. The presence of these artifacts in St. Martin indicates that the island’s inhabitants shared cultural and religious practices with other Taíno and Arawak groups in the Caribbean. These zemi artifacts are crucial for understanding the island’s pre-Columbian heritage, as they provide a direct link to the belief systems and rituals of its early inhabitants.

Their discovery also underscores the interconnectedness of the Caribbean’s indigenous cultures, as similar artifacts have been found across the region.

References: Sypkens Smit, M.P., Versteeg, A.H. (1982). Preliminary Report on the Archaeology of St. Martin. Haviser, J.B. (1987). Zemi Worship in Pre-Columbian St. Martin.