Hunt for pre-historic
village on in Cay Bay
CAY BAY--The undisturbed valley next GEBE Power Plant may have once been the home of pre-Columbian Indians and remnants of their existence could still be buried deep in the soil.
Like a detective gathering clues, archaeologist Dr. Jay Haviser dug close to 100 test pits Wednesday on the property of Indigo Bay Estates, a 148 high-end beachfront boutique hotel and villa, for evidence of the island’s first human inhabitants.
Haviser’s work on the property is sanctioned by Indigo Bay Developers, who have contracted St. Maarten Archaeological Centre (SIMARC) to carry out the survey, mandated by government’s Environmental Development and Property Management Department as a precursor to obtaining a permit to continue the project. Haviser is Director of SIMARC.
“It is highly probable that this area has a pre-historic village,” Haviser told The Daily Herald. The valley, which is visible from the lookout point at Harold Jack on Cole Bay Hill, fits the profile of such a settlement.
The archaeologist added, though, that it is also quite possible that nothing may be found in the area.
He commended the developers for pursuing an archaeological survey. “This is the way is it supposed to be. Indigo Bay Estates has definitely set a good precedence. After all, this is an undisturbed area and not carrying out a survey could lead to the loss of heritage [if such a settlement is buried there].”
If he discovers artefacts and other items of interest in the area, Haviser will report this to the developers and advise them how to proceed to protect these bits of island history.
The archaeological survey includes sifting the soil in the test pits and the documentation of the hillside and its stone piles.
The archaeologist is assisted by high school students from SIMARC’s youth programme. The teenagers have already applied their archaeological training by working in the field on Emilio Wilson Estate and Fort Amsterdam. Some paid labourers will also be used by Haviser on the two to three-week project.
