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This article tries to demonstrate that the former governor of Essequibo, Jan van der Goes, was also the Indian prince called Vandergoes met by the English, French, and Dutch in the early second half of the seventeenth century at Cayenne. This hypothesis is supported by detailed information on the career of Jan van der Goes derived from the general meetings of the Zeeland Chamber of the WIC and by appearances of the aforementioned Vandergoes in various European documents. In addition, the incorporation of this Dutchman among the Arecarets reveals a particular Amerindian adaptation to colonization along the Wild Coast.

The Dutch loss of Brazil in 1654 favoured the resettlement of Dutch merchants along the Wild Coast and in the Lesser Antilles and the establishment of new colonies. Cayenne Island was one of them. One WIC patent was handed to Jan Claes Langedijck, who settled at the former French fort of Cépérou, and another patent was given to David Nassy, who settled in the Anse de Rémire, situated at the opposite part of the former island. Both colonies were taken by the French in May 1664 as part of the imperial French expansion under King Louis XIV and Jean-Baptist Colbert. It is argued here that the main French goal was to gain control of the sugar plantations of the Sephardic community located there, and, to a lesser extent, the much-desired territorial control of this region as proposed by the newly established French West India Company. The Dutch were aware of the attack, but could not intervene as it was already too late to send support to the poorly defended Cayenne colony. Both parties negotiated the take-over and the majority of the Dutch settlers stayed under French rule, as was suggested by the Dutch government and hoped for by the French.

International audience; In order to compare pre-Columbian cultural af fi liations in the Lesser Antilles, we studied three ceramic series from Guadeloupe (F.W.I.) from well-dated Troumassoid sites between AD 1000 and 1300 (radiometric ages) attributed to the Late Ceramic Age (AD 1000 – 1500). The signifi cance of the different types of inclusions in these ceramics is discussed through a petrographic study using optical and electron microscopy, that we subsequently compared with the local geological contexts. Two of the studied sites are located in the volcanic part of Guadeloupe (Basse-Terre), while the third one is situated in an area dominated by the sedimentary substratum of Grande-Terre and its silty cover.The petrographic analysis shows either the use of local heterogeneous materials: natural, geological or pedological aplastic inclusions (volcanic sands and cinders, ferruginous soils), and the addition of grog (anthropogenic temper). At each of the three sites studied, the presence of grog was demonstrated for several modal series. Comparison of the compositions of the pastes with the ceramic chrono-typology allow us to explore the proposition presented by Donahue et al. (1990), suggesting that the use of grog may infer a difference between Troumassoid and pre-Troumassoid assemblages. We also hypothesize a progressive diffusion of the use of grog temper into the Lesser Antilles, from the Guianas. This idea defies the commonly accepted idea that Troumassoid developed smoothly out of a locally present Saladoid ceramic series without external influence.; Dans le but de comparer les filiations culturelles précolombiennes dans les Petites Antilles, nous avons étudié trois séries de céramiques de Guadeloupe (Antilles françaises), provenant d’occupations troumassoïdes bien datées entre AD 1000 et 1300 (âges radiométriques) ou de l’époque de la céramique tardive (AD 1000-1500).La signification des différents types d’inclusions dans ces céramiques est discutée grâce à leur étude en pétrographie en microscopie optique et électronique, puis mise en regard des contextes géologiques locaux. Deux des sites étudiés sont localisés dans la partie volcanique de l’île de Basse-Terre, tandis que le troisième se trouve dans une zone dominée par le substratum sédimentaire de Grande-Terre et de sa couverture limoneuse. Les caractérisations pétrographiques montrent l’usage de matériaux hétérogènes locaux : inclusions aplastiques naturelles d’origine géologique ou pédologique (sables et cendres volcaniques, sols ferrugineux) ; ou l’ajout de chamottes (dégraissant anthropique).Sur chacun des trois sites étudiés la présence de chamottes est ainsi démontrée pour plusieurs séries modales. La confrontation des compositions des pâtes avec la chrono-typologie céramique permet alors de conforter la proposition présentée par Donahue et al. (1990), qui place l’usage de la chamotte comme possible différence entre les assemblages troumassoïdes et pré-troumassoïdes. Nous émettons de plus l’hypothèse d’une diffusion progressive dans les Petites Antilles, à partir des Guyanes. Cette idée défie l’idée communément acceptée que les Troumassoïdes s’individualisent progressivement depuis les séries Saladoïdes sans influence externe.

Sous la coordination de Sébastien Pauly.; Lire le rapport sur : https://fr.calameo.com/read/0015242709af194689df6.

International audience; To decipher the long-term influences of pre-Columbian land occupations on contemporary forest structure, diversity, and functioning in Amazonia, most of the previous research focused on the alluvial plains of the major rivers of the Amazon basin. Terra firme, that is, nonflooded forests, particularly from the Guiana Shield, are yet to be explored. In this study, we aim to give new insights into the subtle traces of pre-Columbian influences on present-day forests given the archaeological context of terra firme forests of the Guiana Shield. Following archaeological prospects on 13 sites in French Guiana, we carried out forest inventories inside and outside archaeological sites and assessed the potential pre-Columbian use of the sampled tree species using an original ethnobotanical database of the Guiana Shield region. Aboveground biomass (320 and 380 T/ha, respectively), basal area (25–30 and 30–35 m2/ha, respectively), and tree density (550 and 700 stem/ha, respectively) were all significantly lower on anthropized plots (As) than on nonanthropized plots (NAs). Ancient human presence shaped the species composition of the sampled forests with Arecaceae, Burseraceae, and Lauraceae significantly more frequent in As and Annonaceae and Lecythidaceae more frequent in NAs. Although alpha diversity was not different between As and NAs, the presence of pre-Columbian sites enhances significantly the forest beta diversity at the landscape level. Finally, trees with edible fruits are positively associated with pre-Columbian sites, whereas trees used for construction or for their bark are negatively associated with pre-Columbian sites. Half a millennium after their abandonment, former occupied places from the inner Guiana Shield still bear noticeable differences with nonanthropized places. Considering the lack of data concerning archaeology of terra firme Amazonian forests, our results suggest that pre-Columbian influences on the structure (lower current biomass), diversity (higher beta diversity), and composition (linked to the past human tree uses) of current Amazonian forests might be more important than previously thought.

Lecture du rapport sur Calaméo : https://fr.calameo.com/read/0015242709af194689df6.

Par ses activités, l’homme a contribué, par le passé, à transformer les sols dans une telle mesure que les référentiels pédologiques internationaux consacrent une classe aux anthroposols archéologiques. Dans les Antilles-Guyane, les travaux des 20 dernières années en archéologie préventive ont mis au jour des anthroposols archéologiques en contextes précolombiens. Les questionnements archéologiques portent sur l’origine de ces sols sombres, épais et d’aspect homogène, et les modes d’occupations passés qu’ils expriment. Afin de répondre à ces questionnements, la micromorphologie apparaît comme un outil efficace pour déterminer les processus de formation des sols, tant pédologiques qu’archéologiques, tout en informant sur les activités humaines anciennes. L’analyse comparative de deux anthroposols archéologiques martiniquais et guyanais vise à dégager les caractères communs et les spécificités stationnelles ou culturelles. Les résultats de cette étude montrent que : (i) les indicateurs microscopiques d’anthropisation des sols élaborés sur cinq sites archéologiques guyanais sont transposables à l’anthroposol martiniquais étudié ; (ii) les anthroposols analysés se sont mis en place par des apports rythmés (anthroposols cumuliques). Selon les indicateurs, les variations intra-site de l’anthroposol guyanais témoignent d’aires d’activité différentes, tandis que le site martiniquais correspond à une zone d’occupation peu intense. Ces résultats montrent également qu’en termes de processus, les sols précolombiens des Antilles-Guyane correspondent à des anthroposols archéologiques alors qu’ils sont exclus, pour certains, du référentiel pédologique français, du fait de leur trop faible épaisseur et/ou abondance en composants anthropiques. Ceci conduit à proposer une révision de leur définition dans les référentiels pédologiques, afin de les inclure. Past human activity contributed to the transformations of soils in such a way that international soil classifications include anthropogenic soils or anthrosols as a specific type. In the last two decades rescue archaeology carried out in the French Lesser Antilles and French Guiana revealed homogenic, thick, and dark-colored pre-Columbian anthrosols. In this context, archaeological research tries to determine their origin and what kind of past human occupation these soils may reflect. In order to answer these questions micromorphological analysis appears to be a proper tool to unravel the processes of pedological and archaeological soil formation in relation to former anthropogenic activities. Comparative analysis of two pre-Columbian anthrosols, one from the Martinique Island and one from French Guiana, aims to define shared characteristics as well as local perhaps cultural peculiarities. The results show that (i) microscopic indicators of soil anthropisation from five French Guiana archaeological sites can be used as a proxy for Martinican anthrosols; (ii) the analyzed anthrosols have been rhythmically developped in relation to pre-Columbian activities, i.e. cumulic anthrosols. According to the indicators, intra-site variations of the French Guiana anthrosol show different activity zones whereas the Martinican sites correspond to a low-density occupation. These results also show that Antillean-Guiana pre-Columbian soils represent noticeable archaeological anthrosols despite the fact that, for some, they can not be included in the French soil classification, because of their thinness and low quantity of archaeological remains they contain; hence, we propose a revision of their definition in order to include them in soil classification.

Grindstones from Eva 2 and St. John, two of the earliest sites in northeastern South America and the southern Caribbean respectively, were subjected to starch grain analysis. Results of this study revealed that these stone artifacts were utilized to process a variety of cultivars such as maize (Zea mays), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), chili pepper (Capsicum spp.), achira (Canna spp.), legumes (Fabaceae), and yams (Dioscoreaceae), coupled with wild resources, most notably marunguey (Zamia spp.). Radiocarbon dates indicate that the use of plants identified at these two sites were much older than previously considered, going back to at least 7790 cal. BP at St. John and 5990 cal. BP at Eva 2. This new evidence showcases the importance of the Caribbean basin as an arena for early phytocultural dispersals. It also focuses attention on the role of navigation as a mechanism for crop diffusion in the Neotropics. The domestication and dispersal of food crops in the Neotropics has gained significant attention in the past three decades as a result of the widespread application of novel methods for the identification of the plants that were consumed in ancient times in the region. Of particular importance has been the analysis of the starch grains that became trapped in the fissures and pores of artifacts. Starch grains constitute a type of microbotanical remain that is highly resistant to the taphonomic conditions of the tropics which tend to significantly diminish many of the other organic evidences of plant use in the area. The plant that has received the most attention in this regard has been maize, which has been documented in a much wider array of settings than previously envisioned. Recent data indicate that the tempo of maize dispersal was rather quick, being perhaps the cultivated plant that spread across the longest distance in the least amount of time in the tropics. All the information that has been generated thus far suggests that once maize was first domesticated in M�

Lecture du rapport sur Calaméo : https://fr.calameo.com/read/0015242709af194689df6.

Un site amérindien avec une vocation d’espace funéraire a été découvert sur le terrain cadastré AM 43, nommé Sable Blanc Est dans la Commune de Iracoubo, Guyane française. En 2006, un diagnostic préventif a été réalisé par l’Inrap sur une partie de la parcelle. Trois secteurs décapés dans la zone centrale de la parcelle ont clairement montré une distribution spatiale de deux ensembles funéraires représentés par multiples vases funéraires localisées sur un affleurement naturel. Les dépôts funéraires sont enterrés en plusieurs façons en permettant de distinguer une stratigraphie sociale. Les récipients non décorés évoquent une utilisation quotidienne et une datation C14 permet d’avoir une première fourchette chronologique entre la fin du Xème et la première moitié du XIIème siècle après J-C. Ce site est pour l’instant le seul site funéraire ou véritable nécropole à l’ouest de Cayenne.Mots clés: site funéraire, distribution spatiale, Guyane Française.

Ethnographic fieldwork (1994-1998) by the author among the Palikur of French-Guiana and Amapá State, in Brazil, provided a description of the actual state of their pottery tradition. It shows how the last Palikur potters manufacture ceramics and how they decorate their pottery. The Palikur decoration motifs reflect the organisation of Palikur society which is embedded in their oral tradition. They play an important role during public (ritual) events such as marriage, initiation and death. This information can be used as a tool for archaeologists to gain a better understanding of pre- Columbian ceramic complexes. O trabalho de campo etnográfico (1994-1998) realizado pelo autor entre os Palikur da Guiana Francesa e do estado do Amapá, no Brasil, forneceu uma descrição do estado atual de sua tradição cerâmica. Mostra como as últimas oleiras Palikur manufaturam e decoram sua cerâmica. Os motivos decorativos dos Palikur refletem a organização da sociedade Palikur, que é imersa em sua tradição oral. Desempenham papel importante durante eventos (rituais) públicos, tais como o casamento, a iniciação e a morte. Essa informação pode ser usada como uma ferramenta para que os arqueólogos ampliem a compreensão sobre complexos cerâmicos pré-colombianos.

Recent archaeological research on Cayenne Island (French Guiana) showed that maize was a very important crop during the Late Ceramic Age (AD 900-1500), at least among the coastal population of this part of the Guianas. In contrast, the Historic Age (AD 1500-1900) and Modern Times of this particular region is dominated by reports on the consumption of manioc, notably cassava, manioc beer and later on of farinha. This dichotomy makes sense when discussing various events during the 17th century by means of careful reading of the historical documents, the comparison of material culture and the interpretation of local Amerindian oral tradition. In this manner, it is proposed that the introduction of metal graters by Europeans has favored the consumption of manioc over maize. Keywords : Guianas, grater boards, metal tools, manioc, maize, A pesquisa arqueológica recente na Ilha de Caiena (Guiana Francesa) mostrou que o milho foi um importante cultivo durante o Período Ce­râmico Tardio (AD 900-1500) entre a população costeira desta parte das Guianas. Já o Período Histórico (AD 1500-1900) e moderno des­ta região, em particular, é dominado por relatos sobre o consumo da mandioca, notadamente o beiju, a bebida de mandioca fermentada e, por fim, a farinha. Esta dicotomia faz sentido quando discutimos vários eventos por meio da leitura de documentos históricos do século XVII, da comparação da cultura material e da interpretação da tradição oral ameríndia. Nesse sentido, propomos que a introdução dos raladores de metal pelos europeus favoreceu o consumo da mandioca em detrimento do milho. Palavras-chave: Guianas, raladores, ferramentas de ferro, mandioca, milho

International audience

Identifiant de l'operation archeologique : 23237 Date de l'operation : 2006 (EX) Une demande de permis de construire a motive la realisation d’un diagnostic dans le quartier du Carmel a Basse-Terre, sur une parcelle situee a l'angle de la cale l'Esperance et de la rue Amedee-Fengarol. Cette operation a permis la decouverte de deux ensembles archeologiques. Le premier est localise sur la partie haute de la parcelle, le second sur la pente et dans la zone basse vers la mer. Ce second ensemble...

Identifiant de l'operation archeologique : 23241 Date de l'operation : 2006 (EX) Un diagnostic archeologique a ete realise en prealable a un projet de lotissement au lieu-dit « Macaille », sur la commune d'Anse-Bertrand. Les parties nord et est du terrain sont constituees d'une zone basse (inondee en periode de fortes pluies) qui entoure trois petites collines, situees au centre et au sud du terrain. La Carte des Ingenieurs du Roi (1764) signale a cet emplacement quatre bâtiments alignes au c...

Identifiant de l'operation archeologique : 23209 Date de l'operation : 2006 (EX) Un diagnostic a ete realise en prealable a un projet de lotissement a Bisdary, sur la commune de Gourbeyre. La parcelle etudiee est localisee dans une depression plane entre deux mornes, le Houelmont et le Cadet. Sur le sommet du Morne Cadet, en limite est de la parcelle, se situe l’ancienne habitation jesuite « Le Bisdary ». Une serie de 30 tranchees a ete ouverte perpendicul...

Identifiant de l'operation archeologique : 23219 Date de l'operation : 2006 (EX) Un diagnostic archeologique a ete realise en prevision d’un projet de route et de giratoire le long du littoral entre le Bas-Bourg de Basse-Terre et la Tour du Pere Labat sur la commune de Baillif. Lors du diagnostic, le trace de la future route et le pont etaient deja realises. De ce fait, la mise en place des sondages s'est faite a l’exterieur du trace et a proximite des contreforts des ouvrages d’art. Des depo...

Le site d’Eva 2 a livré les vestiges d’un village amérindien de l’époque historique en Guyane française. Le mobilier collecté nous confronte avec une chronologie longue qui s’étale entre 1650 et 1900 de notre ère. En comparant la céramique découverte lors de la fouille et celle des collections de poterie amérindiennes du xixe siècle conservées dans différents musées européens, on observe une ambiguïté chronologique. Ce décalage conduit à l’hypothèse d’une transformation de la céramique produite par les Amérindiens de la bande littorale, nommés Galibis par les premiers colons, au cours de l’époque coloniale et durant le développement d’une production répondant à la demande des colons, notamment tout au long du xixe siècle., The archaeological site of Eva 2 represents a historic Amerindian village in French Guiana. The collected material suggests a long chronology approximately between A. D. 1650 and 1900. When comparing the Eva 2 ceramics to the 19th century Amerindian ceramics stored in European collections, a delicate ambiguity is obtained regarding this chronology. It demonstrates a transformation of the pre-Columbian ceramic register produced by the Amerindians inhabiting the coastal zone of French Guiana, historically known as the Galibi by the first European settlers. It further reveals a tourist production, favored by the demand of these Europeans, notably during the course of the 19th century., El sitio arqueológico de Eva 2 fue una aldea amerindia ubicada en la Guayana francesa. El material recolectado sugiere una ocupación relativamente larga duración, aproximadamente entre el 1650 y 1900 d.C. Al comparar el ajuar cerámico de Eva 2 y las colecciones cerámicas amerindias del siglo 19 depositadas en Europa, surge una ambigüedad con respecto a dicha cronología. La comparación demuestra una transformación en el registro cerámico producido por los amerindios que habitaron la zona costanera de la Guayana Francesa, históricamente identificada como Galibi por los primeros colonos europeos. Adicionalmente el análisis revela la presencia de una producción alfarería para el turismo estimulada por la demanda de dichos europeos, la cual aumentó/incrementó notablemente durante el curso del siglo 19.

10.4324/9781003181651; International audience