A group of local and international archaeologists has discovered in the Berbice area a human settlement that dates back almost 5,000 years. This was revealed at the Umana Yana on Saturday, August 20 at a public presentation on the Berbice Archaeology Project between the University of Guyana’s (UG) Amerindian Research Unit, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Florida of the U.S.A.
From Left: Chair of the Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin, Professor Neil Whitehead, stands with University of Guyana's School of Education and Humanities, Amerindian Research Unit lecturer George Simon
Presentations were done by lecturer at the Amerindian Research Unit and Professor at the School of Education and Humanities, George Simon; chair of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin, Neil Whitehead; and Professor at the University of Florida, Michael Heckenberger.
The Berbice Archaeology Project has its origin in the acute observation of retired Major General Joseph Singh, who noticed on one of his many flights to the Guyana Defence Force’s battle school at Takama in the Berbice River, that the surrounding savannahs were covered in small mounds.
In 1986, George Simon, then with the Walter Roth Museum, was dispatched to investigate the site. Simon discovered the presence of Terra Preta (soils resulting from dense long-term human settlement) along the Berbice River near Fort Nassau. In 1992, Neil Whitehead accompanied George Simon to these sites, and a test trench of a mound revealed that the mound was approximately 2000 years old.
It was not until 2009 that an expert archaeologist from the University of Florida, Michael Heckenberger, with a wide experience of anthropological research in Amazonia; and David Steadman, expert in neo-tropical zoology, were available to assess the sites.
Tests conducted on the site revealed that human occupation there dates back to up to 5,000 years. This preliminary work was the basis for applying for funding from the National Science Foundation in Washington, D. C., and experts later returned in 2011, at the invitation of the University of Guyana, to expand these initial insights.
Research conducted recently focused on the early occupations identified at the Dubulay site and on surrounding savannah regions. The aim was to identify occupation sites associated with the period of raised agricultural mound complex and the large settled occupations reported in early historical documents.
Simon, in a recent interview, said a number of decorative pottery and stone axes among other notable historical pieces were discovered on various sites despite the presence of cultivation and the activity of heavy machinery in these areas.
“The remains of decorative pottery and a number of stone axes were found. Some of them are not in good shape because the area has been cultivated and ploughed, but a few pots almost intact were discovered in the area,” he said.
Professor Whitehead said that the excavation this year will stimulate the interest of Guyanese to do anthropology at UG, and will also help to build the capacity of UG for high level scientific research.
He also noted that the site is significant because the findings will inform not only Guyana, but also the Americas and the world about the ancient settlements.
“We feel that this will be a very important site to draw the attention of scholars around the world and allow us to demonstrate how human natural systems are linked through time, and how they can support biodiversity,” Whitehead said.
A memorandum of understanding was recently signed by UG and the University of Wisconsin to explore the possibility of establishing an outline portal for educational and scientific cooperation between the two entities.
The MoU was signed by the two universities due to a desire to expand scholarly ties, facilitate academic cooperation, and promote mutual understanding between both parties.
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