Muddy Bay
Late Ceramic Age (Post Saladoid)
Muddy Bay (PH-14) is a late period ceramic age site situated in Nonsuch Harbour. The area of prehistoric settlement is delineated by large quantities of shell and ceramic debitage. The site was investigated by Reg Murphy for his Masters Degree at Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario. David Cruz, also of Trent University completed a comparative study of the faunal remains for his Masters. Several others have conducted research at the site. Of note are, Christy de Mille, lithic analysis, and Dr. Paul Healy (Trent University) (field research and radiometric analysis).
While not rich in exotic artifacts, Muddy Bay provided good information about the late ceramic age on Antigua. It is situated in the dry northeastern section of the island, and has exceptionally good preservation of organic material. Phytoliths, pollen, and microbotanical remains have been recovered and further investigations of the site is pending. The site is classified as a coastal fishing village. It is in close proximity to a larger site that predates it (Nonsuch PH-11) by 300 years. As the lands on which the site is situated are privately owned, its destruction is inevitable.
Revisited
In 2006 the amazing post Saladoid site PH-14 Muddy Bay was revisited by Dr. Murphy and Ph.D. candidate CUNY, Matthew Brown. Previous research in 1991 – 94 recovered a significant sample of ceramics, lithic material, and worked shell in dense midden deposits 1.5 meters deep. But the most interesting aspect of PH-14 is the remarkable preservation of organic material and many kilos of bone and carbonized material were recovered. Muddy Bay has been radiocarbon dated to AD1220. The site will eventually be lost to luxury waterfront residential development; a most unfortunate occurrence for such a special archaeological site with excellent organic preservation.
The excavated faunal material will provide training and research material for students for years to come. Most of the bones are from small reef fish, those typically caught in fish traps today, but many birds, iguana, and rodent bones were also noted. Rare species identified include a large Wood Stork, Burrowing owl, manatee, snakes, rice rats and guinea pigs. In addition, skeletal remains of a young female were excavated that were in direct association with the Wood Stork.
Post Saladoid Sites: Coconut Hall | Mill Reef | Muddy Bay | Winthorpes West
Mill Reef
The Mill Reef archaeological site was discovered and excavated in the 1960 by Dr. Fred Olsen and members of the Antigua Archaeological Society. The site has been classified archaeologically as a Terminal Saladoid site for stylistically it marks a change from the Saladoid tradition and the development of an island oriented culture. The Mill Reef site, formerly known as the Brook, is situated along a small watercourse in close proximity to the sea, in a marine rich environment.
Mill Reef Pottery
Mill Reef period ceramics represents the second phase of pre-Columbian ceramic/cultural development on Antigua. The date attributed to the appearance of this series is about 600 AD. It coincides with an increase in settlements on Antigua and its nearby marginal satellite islands.
Some elements of the earlier “Saladoid” ceramic styles persist while others are abandoned, and new traits appear in the archaeological record. White-on-red decoration continues but with a change from curvilinear designs to straight and diagonal striping. Zoned-incised-crosshatch disappears as do the modelled-incised lugs, nubbins, and incense burners. Cassava griddles continue to be utilized but are now built with legs. The overall quality of the ceramic style and form deteriorates. Vessel walls are thicker, and the surface roughened and at times scratched. The deep reddish brown, highly burnished, decorated thin-wall Saladoid vessels are replaced by more expedient, functional vessels that are cruder in form and technology.
From a broader perspective, the Mill Reef phase of change may be seen as the beginning of a localised cultural development, for it marks a shift in settlement pattern and subsistence strategy towards a marine orientation on Antigua. It further marks an expansion of settlements onto the arid, xerophytic low-lying limestone islands, such as Anguilla and Barbuda . Today, the Mill Reef site remains well preserved and has not been impacted by development. (Murphy 1999)
Ceramic Age/Pre Columbian Sites: Cades Bay | Doigs | Elliot's | Green Castle Hill | Indian Creek | Long Island | Mill Reef | Royall's
Post Saladoid Sites: Coconut Hall | Mill Reef | Muddy Bay | Winthorpes West
Long Island
Long Island is situated about 2 kilometres north east of Antigua. It is a low limestone island a few metres above sea level. The island is literally comprised of marine chert/flint nodules of very high quality.
This resource was vital to the pre-Columbian peoples of Antigua from as early as 3,100 BC. It has been found as far north as the Virgin Islands, and Martinique in the south. Long island flint nodules/cobbles generally have a white cortex or surface patina, and ranges from light brown to gray black internally. It is commonly found in abundance at all pre-Columbian sites on Antigua.
While the native peoples of the Lesser Antilles did not make or utilise stone projectile points, backed knives and spoke-shave type tools have been found. Their primary lithic technology was the reduction of cores for the production of usable flakes and chips.
Preliminary archaeological research and surveys have been conducted on Long Island by students and faculty of the University of Leiden, Holland.
Today the island is being developed as an exclusive hotel and also for housing catering to the very wealthy. This activity marks the destruction of one of the most important archaeological sites in the Caribbean. Interestingly, the land owners are sensitive towards criticism about their destruction of the heritage site, yet, no efforts are being made or considered in regards to preservation or research of any of the archaeological sites, prior to their destruction.
Ceramic Age/Pre Columbian Sites: Cades Bay | Doigs | Elliot's | Green Castle Hill | Indian Creek | Long Island | Mill Reef | Royall's
Middle Ground
The hills that form the southwestern peninsular overlooking the British Naval Dockyard were of strategic importance for the protection of the facility, the moored fleet, and ships being repaired. This central area of rugged highlands was aptly named the Middle Ground. In recognition of its strategic importance, the ridge was fortified in 1791, the early days of the Napoleonic Wars. Fortifications include, gun-platforms, barracks for detachments of soldiers, and water cisterns. At the eastern end, the entrance to the harbor is the first line of defense, Fort Berkeley. In the middle sits the Keene 's or one-gun battery and Middle Ground Barracks, while at the western end of the ridge is picturesque Fort Cuyler. The barracks sited on the ridge was home to many, and is now the focus of archaeological investigation.
Buttons and uniform insignia from the 1 st , 4 th and 11 th West India Regiments (African soldiers), the 52nd Oxfordshire Regiment, the 89th Princess Victoria Regiment (1839-41), and the 74th Highlanders Regiment (1834-37), have been excavated.
Although badly looted, Middle Ground has yielded an interesting assemblage of artifacts. Among the most interesting features of the site are three oval shaped holes that are carved into the bedrock nearby. Similar holes were commonly made in northern Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria and used for the processing of grains and traditional foods, during this time period. The Middle Ground holes, and others in the area, were likely made and used by the Africans associated with the site. To date, four African/black regiments are known to have been stationed there.
The Middle Ground is sited along a now popular nature trail that overlooks English Harbour. Today, only the stone foundations of the quarters, kitchen, latrines, and cisterns are visible.
British Fortification Sites: Fort George/Monk's Hill| Middle Ground | The Ridge at Shirley's Height
Indian Creek
The site is situated on a now dry watercourse about one kilometre inland from the sea. Radiocarbon dates indicate that humans occupied the site for an extensive period of time (200 BC – 1300 AD).
The Indian Creek site is important for it presents the entire Ceramic Age (Arawak), cultural sequence of the pre-Columbian period on Antigua. To this end, the early ceramic (Saladoid) style on Antigua is called the "Indian Creek" style.
Indian Creek is perhaps the best known prehistoric site on Antigua to Caribbeanists. Dr. Irving Rouse of Yale University, Dr. Fred Olsen, and Desmond Nicholson of the Antigua Archaeological Society excavated the site in the early 1970s. It is the site from which Rouse's ceramic cultural chronology was established for Antigua and the Leeward Islands. In June 2013, archaeologists from University of Texas, the National Parks Antigua and CUNY Brooklyn College will revisit the site and begin a series of excavations close to the old Yale dig sites. The objective is to utilize modern methods of excavations, equipment and analysis to further our knowledge of the site and to compare the findings with the thirty-year old Rouse/Yale results. We are particularly concerned with the earliest periods of settlement. Recent investigations elsewhere in the region have found strong evidence suggesting that the Zoned Incised Crosshatch (La Hueca) pottery predates the White on Red (Saladoid) ceramics. This separation has not yet been observed on Antigua. We also hope to investigate the role or influences of the environment and the periods of cultural changes and adaptive responses by the Saladoid/Arawak people.
Ceramic Age/Pre Columbian Sites: Cades Bay | Doigs | Elliot's | Green Castle Hill | Indian Creek | Long Island | Mill Reef | Royall's