Archaeological Investigations Between Cayenne Island and the Maroni River : A Cultural Sequence of Western Coastal French Guiana From 5000 BP to Present

"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 List of Figures List of Tables List of Abbreviations Preface The present study and its objectives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The research objectives 1.3 Compliance archaeology in French Guiana 1.3.1 The fieldwork 1.3.2 The analysis and reporting 1.4 The chronological stages and cultural taxonomy 1.5 A brief outline of this study The landscapes of the eastern Guianas 2.1 The geographical setting 2.2 The geological setting 2.2.1 The Precambrian Shield 2.2.2 The White Sand Formation 2.2.3 The Coastal Plains 2.2.4 The River Terraces 2.2.5 The pedogenesis 2.3 The coastal vegetation 2.4 The archaeological landscapes 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 3.4.1 The Lithic Age 3.4.2 The Archaic Age 3.4.3 The Ceramic Age 3.4.3.1 The Early Ceramic Age 3.4.3.2 The Late Ceramic Age 3.4.4 The Historic Age 3.5 Final remarks The Archaic Eva 2 site 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The excavation methods and techniques 4.3 The geological context 4.3.1 Introduction 4.3.2 The coring project with FUGRO 4.3.3 The palynological potential with NITG/TNO 4.3.4 The site stratigraphy 4.3.5 The (possible) origins of US 1-3 4.4 The radiocarbon datings 4.4.1 AMS dating 4.4.2 Thermoluminescence dating 4.4.3 The site chronology 4.5 The spatial organization 4.5.1 The Archaic layer (US 4) 4.5.2 The features 4.5.3 The spatial distribution and interpretation of the features 4.6 The lithic study 4.6.1 The raw material 4.6.2 The lithic tools 4.6.3 Pit 12 4.6.4 The spatial distribution 4.7 The starch grain analysis 4.8 The ceramic study 4.9 The site synthesis The Chemin Saint-Louis site 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The geological context 5.2.1 The geomorphology 5.2.2 Terra preta in the Guianas? 5.2.3 The micromorphology 5.2.4 The multi-element analyses 5.3 The radiocarbon datings 5.4 The features 5.4.1 The feature description 5.4.2 The phytolith analysis 5.4.3 The feature distribution 5.5 The ceramic analysis 5.5.1 Introduction 5.5.2 The constituent elements 5.5.3 The description of the complete archaeological vessel shapes 5.5.4 The decoration modes 5.5.5 The Phase 1 ceramics 5.5.6 The Phase 2 ceramics 5.5.7 The Phase 3 ceramics 5.5.7.1 La Pointe de Balaté site 5.5.7.2 The Phase 3 analysis 5.6 The lithic study 5.6.1 Introduction 5.6.2 The raw material 5.6.3 The artefacts 5.6.4 The spatial distribution 5.6.5 Conclusions 5.7 The starch grain analysis 5.7.1 The description of the samples 5.7.2 The results 5.7.3 Final remarks 5.8 The site synthesis The Crique Sparouine site 6.1 Introduction 6.1.1 The geological setting 6.1.2 The excavation methods 6.1.3 The radiocarbon datings 6.2 The features 6.2.1 The pits 6.2.2 The post holes 6.2.3 The spatial distribution of the features 6.3. The lithic study 6.3.1 The flaked stone tools 6.3.2 The ground stone tools 6.3.3 The other tools 6.3.4 Conclusion 6.4. The ceramic study 6.4.1 Introduction 6.4.2 The constituent elements 6.4.3 The complete vessel shapes 6.4.4 The decoration modes 6.4.5 The synthesis of the ceramic assemblage 6.5 The site synthesis The AM 41 site 7.1. Introduction 7.1.1 The setting 7.1.2 The methods of excavation 7.2. The spatial distribution and diversity of the features 7.2.1 Introduction 7.2.2 The types of depositions 7.2.3 The post holes 7.2.4 The interpretations 7.3. The ceramic study 7.3.1 Introduction 7.3.2 The constituent elements 7.3.3 The decoration modes 7.3.4 The synthesis of the ceramic assemblage 7.4 The Iracoubo necropole The PK 11 or Rorota site 8.1 Introduction 8.2 The stratigraphy 8.3 The radiocarbon datings 8.4 The features 8.4.1 The feature description 8.4.2 The synthesis 8.5 The ceramic study 8.5.1 Introduction 8.5.2 The microscopic analysis 8.5.3 The constituent elements 8.5.4 The decoration modes 8.5.5 Conclusion 8.6 The lithic study 8.6.1 Introduction 8.6.2 The tools 8.6.3 The manuports 8.6.4 Conclusion 8.7 The starch grain analysis 8.7.1 Introduction 8.7.2 The results 8.7.3 Final remarks 8.8 The site synthesis The Cimetière paysager Poncel site 9.1 Introduction 9.2 The geological setting 9.2.1 Introduction 9.2.2 The stratigraphic observations 9.2.3 The interpretations 9.3 The radiocarbon datings 9.4 The features 9.4.1 The description of the features 9.4.2 The paleoparasitological analysis 9.4.3 The feature synthesis 9.5 The ceramic study 9.5.1 Introduction 9.5.2 The constituent elements 9.5.3 The decoration modes 9.5.4 The synthesis of the ceramic assemblage 9.6 The lithic study 9.6.1 The raw materials 9.6.2 The stone tools 9.6.3 Final remarks 9.7 The starch grain analysis 9.7.1 The results 9.7.2 Final remarks 9.8 The site synthesis 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 The Historic Eva 2 site 11.1 Introduction 11.2 The features 11.3 The burials 11.3.1 The general description 11.3.2 The inventory of the burials 11.3.3 Conclusions 11.4 The imported artefacts 11.4.1 The metal ware 11.4.2 The glass beads 11.4.2.1 The burials 11.4.2.2 The other beads 11.4.3 The stone ware 11.4.4 Conclusion 11.5 The lithic material 11.6 The Amerindian ceramics 11.6.1 Introduction 11.6.2 The constituent elements 11.6.3 The decoration modes 11.6.4 The spatial distribution 11.6.5 The synthesis of the ceramic assemblage 11.7 A brief history of Malmanoury 11.7.1 The first encounters 11.7.2 The Jesuit missions in the West 11.7.3 The Mission of Kourou and its aftermath 11.8. The site synthesis The synthesis and reflections 12.1 The Archaic Age 12.2 The Ceramic Age 12.2.1 The Early Ceramic Age (Phase B) 12.2.2 The Late Ceramic Age 12.4 The chiefdoms 12.5 The Historic Age 12.5.1 The Colonial Encounter 12.5.2 The introduction and use of iron tools 12.5.3 Final remarks 12.6 Research questions answered 12.7 Conclusions Epilogue The Appendices The radiocarbon dates The description of historic Amerindian groups on the coast of French Guiana a. Caribes/Charibes/Galibi b. Paragoto/Paragoti/Paracutto c. Yaio/Yao/Jajos/Hyayes d. Arouacas/Arawak/Arawacca/Supayes/Shebaii/Sapaye Miscellaneous descriptions of pottery manufacturing in the Guianas a. Père Jean de la Mousse (c.1680s), Galibis, Sinnamary River, French Guiana b. Thomas Pistorius (1763), Karaiben, Suriname c. Philip Fermin (1770), Suriname d. Johannis Sneebeling (1770s), Paragoto, Perica River, Suriname e. Christlieb Quandt (1770s), Suriname f. Laffon-Labebat (1797), Galibi, Sinnamary River, French Guiana g. Albert von Sack (1805), Arawak, Suriname h. August Kappler (1854), Galibi, Maroni River, Suriname i. L. Capitan (1882), Galibi, Sinnamary River, Paris j. Frederic and Arthur Penard (1907), Galibi, Maroni River, Suriname k. Curt Nimuendajú (1920s), Palikur, Urucauá River, Brazil l. Karl von Martius (1860s), Tapuyo, Brazil European descriptions of Amerindian burial rites and interments in the Guianas a. Antonio Vázquez de Espinosa (c.1630), Aruaca b. Johannis Sneebeling (1770s), Paragotos, Suriname c. Anoine Biet (1652), Galibi, Cayenne d. Goupy de Marets (1690), Galibi, Cayenne, French Guiana e. Father Jean de la Mousse (1680s), Galibi, Sinnamary River, French Guiana j. Father E. Fauque (1736), Palikur, Oyapock River, French Guiana The descriptions of the preparation and consumption of maize and manioc a. John Masham (1597) b. Olive Leigh (1604) c. Jean Mocquet (1604) d. Robert Harcourt (1609) e. Jean Chrétien (1725) f. Pierre Barrère (early 18th century) g. Jacob Jan Hartsinck (early 18th century) Bibliography Annexes (on-line) About the author La traduction des conclusions