Island Council members visit GR2021 burial grounds
Island Council members visited the burial grounds at the Golden Rock 2021 archaeological excavation at the Franklin D. Roosevelt airport on Friday, May 14th 2021.
Mr. Koos Sneek, Mr. Clyde van Putten, Ms. Adelka Spanner, Mr. Reuben Merkman and Ms. Richelline Leerdam viewed the burial ground firsthand. Ms. Natasha Radjouki, Program Manager at the Department of Culture, which is spearheading GR2021, was also on site.
Dr. Ruud Stelten, GR2021 project director, gave a comprehensive tour of the site and also informed the Council Members of the next steps to take place. The Council Members appeared moved and interested in the story which is slowly appearing.
Dr. Felicia Fricke, oesteoarchaeologist, showed several burials which are currently being excavated. She explained the process of how the team discovers, removes and processes the skeletons.
Artifacts
Alex Hinton, interim director of St. Eustatius Center for Archaeological Research (SECAR), explained the excavation process and showed artifacts which were found in the area which is being researched. Ms. Hinton was also informed the Council Members that what is found on the island stays on the island. Thanks to a new climate-controlled location which has been secured on Statia, it is now possible to keep artifacts and remains safe and well conserved.
Mr. Merkman asked why this site is so special. Dr. Stelten explained that in the 1980’s and 1990’s most of the archaeological research was focused on the plantation homes and warehouses in the Caribbean. “It is only recently that archaeologists have begun to focus on the story of the enslaved people.” Stelten pointed out that it is incredibly moving to find the majority of burials done in such a careful and respectful way.
Dr. Stelten finished by telling the Island Council members that they are quite certain that this is one of the largest burial grounds ever to be discovered in the Caribbean. He also explained that there are further graves located near GR2021 but archaeological protocol advises against disturbing any area which is not needed for redevelopment.
