Gis, Heritage and Industrial Archaeology at Aapravasi Ghat

Summary

Between 2010 and 2013 an archaeological excavation was carried out in the warehouse where the Beekrumsing Ramlallah Interpretation Centre on Indenture Labour (BRIC) has been set up. In the 19th century, the warehouse was located in the proximity of the "Hospital Block" and nearby the "Immigrants’ sheds" of the Immigration Depot. The excavation represented an exceptional opportunity to investigate the topography and the industrial development of a key area of Port Louis. The ceramic, glass and metal assemblages offer a fascinating picture of the material culture of the tropical colonial city between 18th and 20th century.

The site was connected with the landing place of the indeture immigrants (as shown in the maps dated 1857) and with the Aapravasi Ghat as a former Immigration Depot. The excavation investigated one of the key area in the Indian Ocean World. The depot’s role in social history was also recognized by UNESCO in 2006. The archaeological reconstruction proved that Trou Fanfaron, the area where the building complex is located, was also the landing point for the French East India Company: in the same area slaves were imported and traded from Africa and India.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• Archaeologies of Colonialism and Everyday Life in the Indian Ocean World

Keywords

Spatial Coverage