Traces of Ancient Cultures

In 2000, Christophe Hénocq uncovered archaeological artifacts dated back to the Pre-Columbian era on the main southwest beach that looks back on St. Martin.

The remains of lithic and shell ceramics were found in the central part of the sheltered beach.

In 2002, Dominique Bonnissent, Director of Archaeological Research on the Pinel site, tells of 2 ancient deposits on the southwest beach. Both sites are partially destroyed by marine erosion on the southwest, and their extension to the north is unknown due to the presence of touristic equipment.

Pinel’s southwest shore of fine shell sand is fragile, and regularly reshaped by the sea during storms.

From observing Amerindian ceramics found underwater, it becomes clear that most of the sites’ destruction was caused by the natural pull-back of the beach, a significant 98 feet (30 meters) since the last land registry in 1986.

This makes it difficult to further study the nature of the occupation of Pinel, which appears to have been a small station, perhaps temporary or seasonal, and related to fishing activities or the collect of marine resources, but we cannot be sure. Nevertheless, this occupation would have necessitated the exploitation or importation of classic artifacts for the period, such as: ceramics, stone tools, coral and shell industry.

SOURCES: BONNISSENT Dominique, « Saint-Martin – Îlet Pinel » [notice archéologique], ADLFI. Archéologie de la France – Information [Online], Espace Caraïbes, published on March 4^th, 2022, consulted on 08/11/2024 on: <https://journals.openedition.org/adlfi/118790> (in French).