Colonial Guyanese Ceramics: A Comparison Between the Production of Two Pottery Workshops

Summary

Since the 1980’ archaeological research concerning ceramics found in French Guiana have been focused on the objects made in Europe and exported to the colony. However, Guyanese potters were making potteries in order to provide sugar plantations with drip jars and sugar moulds as well as with domestic wares. Recently, two workshops have been excavated. The Bergrave pottery workshop is the oldest known in French Guiana; it was active between 1680 and 1720 approximately. The Jésuites pottery workshop was operated from more or less 1700 to 1760. Some sherds found at Bergrave show a mix of handbuilding and wheel-turning features suggesting that we are confronted with an original production. This particular technology is probably resulting from the interaction between various cultural groups. The ceramics found at the Jésuites workshop allow us to compare early colonial pottery in order and document original Guyanese technological and stylistic features.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014   •
• Ceramics from French sites: Current Directions

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-67,07