Understanding the Pre-Columbian Chronology of St. Martin

Pre-Columbian Chronology of St. Martin

The pre-Columbian chronology of St. Martin is a complex timeline that traces the island’s human occupation from the earliest settlers to the eve of European contact. Archaeological findings from sites such as Baie Rouge, Cupecoy Bay, and Great Bay provide a framework for understanding the sequence of cultural developments on the island.

Research conducted by M.P. Sypkens Smit and A.H. Versteeg during their 1979-1981 reconnaissance identified multiple phases of occupation on St. Martin, with the earliest evidence dating back to the Archaic period. This era, characterized by the use of stone and shell tools and a subsistence strategy focused on hunting and gathering, represents the initial human presence on the island. The subsequent Ceramic Age, beginning around the first centuries AD, marked a significant shift in the island’s culture, with the introduction of pottery, agriculture (especially cassava cultivation), and more permanent settlements.

Sites like Baie Rouge and Cupecoy Bay, which were occupied during this period, have yielded artifacts that reflect a more complex society with established trade networks, as evidenced by the presence of imported materials and stylistic influences from other Caribbean islands. The chronology of St. Martin’s pre-Columbian history culminates in the late pre-Columbian period, just before the arrival of Europeans in the 15th century.

By this time, the island’s inhabitants had developed sophisticated social and religious practices, as indicated by the discovery of ceremonial objects like zemis and petroglyphs.

Understanding the chronology of St. Martin’s pre-Columbian past is essential for piecing together the broader history of the Caribbean, highlighting the island’s role in the cultural and economic networks that existed long before European colonization.

References: Sypkens Smit, M.P., Versteeg, A.H. (1982). Preliminary Report on the Archaeology of St. Martin. Rouse, I. (1986). The Tainos: Rise and Decline of the People Who Greeted Columbus.