Pic Paradis: Natural Overlook
Pic Paradis is the highest point on St. Martin, standing at 424 meters.
This location is not only a natural landmark offering breathtaking views of the surrounding islands but also a site of archaeological and historical significance.
During the archaeological reconnaissance led by M.P. Sypkens Smit in the early 1980s, Pic Paradis was identified as a key vantage point that likely held significance for the island’s pre-Columbian inhabitants.
The area around Pic Paradis yielded scattered archaeological finds, including pottery fragments and stone tools, suggesting that it may have been used as a lookout or a strategic gathering place.
The location of Pic Paradis allowed the early inhabitants to maintain visual contact with neighboring islands such as Anguilla, St. Barthelemy, and Saba, which could have been important for inter-island communication and navigation.
The panoramic views would have also provided a strategic advantage in monitoring the surrounding seas for incoming canoes or potential threats. While the archaeological evidence at Pic Paradis is less concentrated than at other sites on the island, the finds nonetheless contribute to the understanding of how the island’s topography influenced settlement patterns and social organization in pre-Columbian times.
References: Sypkens Smit, M.P., Versteeg, A.H. (1982). An Archaeological Reconnaissance of St. Martin. Hartog, J. (1964). A Short History of Sint Maarten and Saint Martin.