Formation Processes of Maritime Archaeological Sites in Guadeloupe (French West Indies): A First Approach

• Main Authors: Guibert, Jean-Sébastien, Leroy, Frédéric, Stouvenot, Christian
• Other Authors: Archéologie Industrielle, Histoire, Patrimoine - Géographie, Développement, Environnement de la Caraïbe UR6_1 (AIHP-GEODE), Université des Antilles (UA), Archéologie des Amériques (ArchAm), Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (UP1)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), DRASSM (Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication), Région Guadeloupe, Parc National de la Guadeloupe, Alicia Caporaso, D’ÎLES EN ÎLES - Etude archéologique de la frange sous-marine de l’îlet à Colas (Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin) et de l’îlet à Chasse (Petit Cul-de-Sac Marin) (Guadeloupe)
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2017
• Subjects: archaeology; maritime landscape; submarine archaeology; Caribbean; French West Indies; submerged prehistory; Saint-Martin island; wrecks; historical archaeology; Guadeloupe; Antilles françaises; préhistoire submergée; archéologie; paysages maritimes; archéologie sous-marine; Caraïbe; épave; Archéologie historique; [SHS.ARCHEO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Archaeology and Prehistory; Martin Island
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-01448703

International audience Understanding the formation processes of maritime archaeological sites and the maritime landscape in the French West Indies is a new challenge in underwater archaeology. This chapter presents an analysis of formation and conservation processes of maritime archaeological sites in Guadeloupe using evidence from both historical and archaeological research. Formation parameters include contemporary events associated with maritime loss and the in situ geophysical regime. Questions considered include: what natural and/or anthropogenic parameters best classify maritime sites in the context of the French West Indies landscape? And: how do these parameters vary by site location? Field-tested case studies are used to assess the archaeological potential for submerged shipwreck sites for three locational typologies within the landscape: submerged, coastal, and micro-island. Geomorphic parameters, including erosion, sea level evolution, and tectonic activity, are evaluated with regard to the formation of coastal Amerindian and colonial sites. The location of shipwrecks are primarily determined by historic patterns in commercial trade and by topographical constraints associated with accessibility, risk, and the presence of natural harbors, parameters important in the Caribbean. A unique feature of Guadeloupe is the high variability of the structure of the coastline through time. The recent discovery of numerous underwater prehistoric artifacts confirms that several islands, coastal areas, and their archaeological sites have been completely submerged or eroded since their formation. The characterization of these formation processes provides both academically interesting and practical information valuable in assessing the impact of development and urbanization in Guadeloupe’s maritime landscape.