Ancient Settlements of Great Bay

Great Bay, located within the town of Philipsburg, is a key archaeological site that sheds light on the pre-Columbian history of St. Martin.

A test-pit excavated at this site by M.P. Sypkens Smit during his 1979-1981 reconnaissance uncovered a significant amount of shell material, along with pottery and coral artifacts. These findings suggest that Great Bay was a thriving settlement area during the pre-Columbian period.

The artifacts discovered at Great Bay include thick, grey pottery sherds, shell scrapers, and coral tools, which indicate that the inhabitants engaged in extensive fishing and shellfish gathering. The strategic location of Great Bay, between the bay and the Salt Pond, offered abundant resources for the community, making it an ideal site for settlement. The finds at Great Bay, particularly the unworked shell material and the presence of household tools, suggest that this area was not only a residential site but also a hub for processing marine resources.

The settlement likely played a crucial role in the broader network of pre-Columbian communities on the island, with its inhabitants maintaining a well-established subsistence strategy centered around the rich coastal environment.

References: Sypkens Smit, M.P. (1982). An Archaeological Reconnaissance of St. Martin. Versteeg, A.H. (1987). A Note on Pre-Columbian Sites in the Lesser Antilles.