Abstract:

Stratigraphic archaeological research in French Guiana is barely 50 years old and has been conducted primarily in the coastal zone, stretching approximately between 5 and 50 kilometres from the Atlantic coast to the Precambrian Shield. This bias, mainly caused by means of modern infrastructure, has sketched an archaeological record concerning pre-Columbian French Guiana focussing on the Late Ceramic Age (AD 900-1500) of Cayenne Island as well as the western Holocene coastal plains. The present study contains the results of six archaeological investigations, conducted from a compliance archaeological perspective, in order to enhance our knowledge of the afore-mentioned coastal area. It not only presents us with fresh archaeological data on the (Late) Archaic and Early Ceramic Age, a hiatus that is now partially filled up, but also sheds new light on the Late Ceramic Age of this specific region concerning funerary rites, ceramic series and subsistence economy.

Martijn van den Bel studied History and Archaeology of Indigenous America at Leiden University and graduated in 1995 with an ethnoarchaeological study on the Palikur potters of French Guiana. Currently he works as a project leader for Inrap in French Guiana. He carries out compliance archaeological research in the French Guiana and the French Lesser Antilles. Next to archaeology, Martijn is interested in the early history of the Guianas and the Lesser Antilles, notably the encounter between Amerindians and Europeans during the 16th and 17th century, resulting in various publications.

Contents

Preface

1. The present study and its objectives
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The research objectives
1.3 Compliance archaeology in French Guiana
1.4 The chronological stages and cultural taxonomy
1.5 A brief outline of this study

2. The landscapes of the eastern Guianas
2.1 The geographical setting
2.2 The geological setting
2.3 The coastal vegetation
2.4 The archaeological landscapes

3. A short history of archaeology in the Guianas
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Between the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers
3.3 French Guiana and Suriname
3.4 The Prehistoric Ages
3.5 Final remarks

4. The Archaic Eva 2 site
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The excavation methods and techniques
4.3 The geological context
4.4 The radiocarbon datings
4.5 The spatial organization
4.6 The lithic study
4.7 The starch grain analysis
4.8 The ceramic study
4.9 The site synthesis

5. The Chemin Saint-Louis site
5.1 Introduction
5.2 The geological context
5.3 The radiocarbon datings
5.4 The features
5.5 The ceramic analysis
5.6 The lithic study
5.7 The starch grain analysis
5.8 The site synthesis

6. The Crique Sparouine site
6.1 Introduction
6.2 The features
6.3. The lithic study
6.4. The ceramic study
6.5 The site synthesis

7. The AM 41 site
7.1. Introduction
7.2. The spatial distribution and diversity of the features
7.3. The ceramic study
7.4 The Iracoubo necropole

8. The PK 11 or Rorota site
8.1 Introduction
8.2 The stratigraphy
8.3 The radiocarbon datings
8.4 The features
8.5 The ceramic study
8.6 The lithic study
8.7 The starch grain analysis
8.8 The site synthesis

9. The Cimetière paysager Poncel site
9.1 Introduction
9.2 The geological setting
9.3 The radiocarbon datings
9.4 The features
9.5 The ceramic study
9.6 The lithic study
9.7 The starch grain analysis
9.8 The site synthesis

10. The Colonial Event
10.1 Introduction
10.2 The Contact Period (1500-1652)
10.3 The Colonial Period (1652-c.1950)
10.4 The present era
10.5 The Historic and present-day Amerindian material culture

11. The Historic Eva 2 site
11.1 Introduction
11.2 The features
11.3 The burials
11.4 The imported artefacts
11.5 The lithic material
11.6 The Amerindian ceramics
11.7 A brief history of Malmanoury
11.8. The site synthesis

12. The synthesis and reflections
12.1 The Archaic Age
12.2 The Ceramic Age
12.4 The chiefdoms
12.5 The Historic Age
12.6 Research questions answered
12.7 Conclusions

Epilogue

The Appendices

Bibliography

Annexes (on-line)

About the author