A question that counts in maritime archaeology : linking historical and archaeological sources in the French West Indies

Summary

This paper aims to present part of the results of historical research in the service of underwater and maritime archaeology realized during a Phd thesis dealing with seafaring and maritime activity in Guadeloupe (FWI). Historical research are presented through two points of view : the use of historical research to help identify shipwreck and maritime sites and the use of historical research to present underwater archaeological potential. This multi scale approach has to be evaluated regarding first results in both fields history and archaeology. Those preliminary research permit to propose hypothesis identification for five shipwreck sites, supposed dating from the beginning of 19th century : the Anse à la Barque wrecks, the Pointe-à-Pitre’ narrow shipwreck, the Baie des Saintes shipwreck and the Sainte-Anne one. In parallel a global approach dealing with archaeological potential of Guadeloupe presenting the result of archival research. Both approaches are presented thanks to recent results questioning links between archaeological and historical research in the field of historical archaeology.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Bringing French Shipwreck Historical Archaeology to the Next Level   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-45,10