Andre Delpeuch, Jean-Pierre Giraud & Albert Hesse (ed.). Archeologie precolombienne et coloniale des Caraibes.

ANDRE DELPEUCH, JEAN-PIERRE GIRAUD & ALBERT HESSE (ed.). Archeologie precolombienne et coloniale des Caraibes. 375 pages, 233 figures, 26 tables. 2002. Paris: Comite des travaux historiques et scientifiques; 2-7355-0496-4 paperback 39 [euro].

These papers cover the archaeology of the French-speaking Caribbean from the pre-ceramic period to the nineteenth century. After the introductory section, summing up the history and present state of archaeological knowledge in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyane (French Guiana), the book is divided into sections on prehistoric archaeology, the Amerindians of the Caribbean and Guyane, and historical archaeology.

The largest section (Section 2) is that on prehistoric archaeology. The four Martinique articles cover cultures from the pre-ceramic, or aceramic (Berard casts doubt on previous claims for pre-ceramic sites), through the end of the Saladoid. Many articles in the prehistory section are concerned with the presence, or not, of a Huecan Saladoid occupation preceding the more common Cedrosan Saladoid, and the article about recent excavations at Vive, Martinique, bears on this. Since, typologically, the Cedrosan Saladoid Vive lower-layer ceramics resemble those at Fond Brule, which has the oldest ceramic dates ill Martinique, Giraud and Berard argue that there is no separate Huecoid, or Huecan Saladoid, in Martinique.

New excavations at Pointe au Marigot put the site at the transition between early and Modified Saladoid, third to sixth centuries AD. The re-excavation of the slightly later site of Dizac recovered late Saladoid ceramics in an undisturbed layer with shell dates from 425 to 725 AD. The shell remains are described in detail and give evidence of changing food tastes, or perhaps changing environment.

Archaeological activity in Guadeloupe during the 1980s and 1990s was very lively. A combined French and Dutch team carried out several prehistoric excavations and, in addition, recent hurricanes have exposed important rock art. Re-excavation of the site of Morel uncovered a small proportion of Huecan-style ceramics and amulets, but the material was not stratigraphically distinct from Cedrosan Saladoid material. The authors (Delpuech, Hofman & Hoogland) support Rouse's hypothesis that Huecan and Cedrosan Saladoid may have not been chronologically distinct from each other, but may have reflected a different cultural function. The same team carried out a major series of excavations at Anse la Gourde. This site covers in its one km extent all the periods from 400 AD (late Cedrosan Saladoid) to 1400 AD (late Troumassoid) and includes habitation structures, burials and sealed layers. The finds are summed up and further excavations at the site are promised.

Guadeloupe, with over 1000 engravings, is the richest area in the Caribbean for rock art. Marlene & Guy Maziere report on Riviere du Plessis and l'Anse des Galets, and attempt a typological classification of engravings. Of most general interest are the Galets Man and Galets Woman who, with an upside-down head between her legs, may be in the process of childbirth. Gerard Richard's article, with a complex and extensive classification of engravings prepared by Main Gilbert, points out the importance of the spatial relations of different engravings at certain sites and reiterates the connection of motifs to Taino myths.

The final article in the prehistoric archaeology section is a report by Bonnissent, Henocq & Stouvenot on Hope Estate, St. Martin, an inland site with stratified middens, dating from 500 BC to 700 AD. Huecan lenses at the base of the deposit levels are reported to have been sealed by Cedrosan lenses; however there was not much early Cedrosan pottery to contrast with the Huecan. Another article about St. Martin appears in Section 3 and, in this, Henocq presents carbon dates from 2000 BC through 1600 AD. Unfortunately, the table does not make clear, except by implication, which dates refer to the Huecan lenses. Sites on St. Martin include everything from pre-ceramic at Norman Estate to Chican material at Bale Rouge, and the island is clearly a very significant archaeological area.

Other articles in Section 3 deal with Guyane. They include a report on a habitation site on a Cayenne hill (Mont Grand Matoury), with detailed studies of carbonised tree remains, and a brief account of an accidentally discovered rock shelter, perhaps a stone workshop, in southern Guyane. Finally, there is an archaeological survey of the Bas Oyapock region by Jeremie & Briand.

The final section is on Colonial archaeology. Two reports on early forts in Martinique attempt to connect archival reports with remains on the ground. Courtaud's study of a Colonial cemetery in Guadeloupe and the accompanying study of its skeletal remains casts doubt on the assumption that all cemeteries not in consecrated ground were for slaves. Two articles deal with the Loyola settlement near Cayenne, one a study of the forge and its artifacts, the other a summary of the settlement's prospects as a site for public visits. An article from Haiti follows, urging that the government recognise the importance of the few remaining archives. Finally, the techniques of electrical resistivity and radar prospection are compared for their usefulness in a geophysical survey carried out in St.-Pierre, Martinique.

This book is a useful summary of work done in French Caribbean territories during the 1990s. There are differences in both quantity and quality of coverage between the different areas but it provides a snapshot of the state of archaeological investigations. It is well produced and the quality of the figures, both line drawings and photographs, is particularly high and will be a boon to non-speakers of French who use this book. The 15 page bibliography will also prove useful to researchers.

MARY HILL HARRIS

Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England.