Rocks engraved with Galion

Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The engraved Galion rocks constitute an exceptional archaeological site of Martinique, representing one of three known sets of Native American rock art on the island, alongside Montravail (Sainte-Luce) and Châteauboeuf (Fort-de-France). This site, registered with the historical monuments by decree of 10 January 2020, bears witness to the presence and cultural practices of pre-Columbian populations. It was discovered in 1992 by an agricultural worker, at the foot of a sugar cane field, thus revealing a heritage long ignored.

The site consists of three engraved rocks, located on cadastral plot 685 (section K) of La Trinité. Their precise location, near the Great South Galion, and their state of conservation motivated their full protection. These engravings, although little documented in the source text, are part of a broader context of Amerindian remains in Martinique, illustrating the material traces of the first human occupations on the island.

Official registration in 2020 marks an institutional recognition of their heritage value. This site offers valuable insight into the artistic and symbolic practices of the Amerindians, in an area where archaeological evidence of this period remains rare. His study contributes to a better understanding of the pre-Columbian societies of the Lesser Antilles, before the arrival of European settlers.

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