Morne-à-Boeuf indigotery

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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The indigoterie of Morne-à-Boeuf is an ancient dye factory located in Capesterre-de-Marie-Galante, on the island of Marie-Galante in Guadeloupe. Built between the 17th and 18th centuries, it exploited the indigenous tree (American and Asian species) to produce blue dye, a flourishing activity in the limestone and low rain areas of the island. Its unique architecture, with two sets of limestone vats and an integrated tank – a rarity among local indigoteries – allowed for continuous production of indigo.

The period of activity of the indigoteries in Guadeloupe extended from 1680 to 1735, with a peak in 1720 at Marie-Galante, where nearly 90 units operated simultaneously. Their decline was caused by competition from Santo Domingo, which flooded the European market. Indigo produced in Morne-à-Boeuf was sold in mainland Guadeloupe and Martinique, then exported to Europe by French and Dutch merchants to compete with pastel. The building, exceptionally well preserved, was listed in the Historic Monuments on December 10, 2013.

Among the 24 indigoteries still visible in Marie-Galante, the one at Morne-à-Bœuf is distinguished by its state of conservation and its cistern, avoiding back and forth for water during manufacture. The remains include rectangular vats (trempoire, battery, rest stand) arranged in square, illustrating a complex artisanal process. The protection of the site underlines its heritage importance in the colonial economic history of the French Antilles.

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