Site of the engraved rocks of the river Du Plessis

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The engraved rocks of the river Plessis constitute a major archaeological complex of Guadeloupe, composed of petroglyphs attributed to the Arawak period, between the 1st and 7th centuries. Located 1.5 km from the coast, in the river bed marking the boundary between Baillif and Vieux-Habitants, this site was discovered in 1886 by Mathieu Guesde. Its location near a waterfall and river basin suggests a ritual function, probably a sanctuary dedicated to water, a central element in the pre-Columbian cultures of the West Indies.

The main site has 19 adorned rocks with at least 147 engravings, two of which are associated with polishers, while a second site, classified in 2014, houses an additional rock. The patterns, mostly anthropomorphic, include stylized faces (eye cups) and complex figures evoking masks or schematized characters, called "wire of iron". In 1995, Cyclone Marilyn discovered a new rock block with four engravings, cups and polishers, enriching the corpus studied.

In 1917, the site was classified as a protected site in Guadeloupe and was first studied by Governor Louis Joseph Bouge and his assistant Roger Biays in the 1930s. In-depth research was conducted later, notably by Cornelis Dubelaar (1984) and Alain Gilbert with G. Richard (1991, 1995). The official inscription for historical monuments took place on 22 November 2013, followed by the ranking of the second site on 1 October 2014, under the authority of Prefect Marcelle Pierrot.

The 21 blocks on the main site bear 74 figures and nine polishers, illustrating the cultural and spiritual practices of the Arawak populations. These petroglyphs, often associated with fertility or passage rites, testify to the symbolic importance of the river, both physical and sacred. Their preservation in the river public domain raises specific conservation issues related to erosion and climatic hazards, as evidenced by post-cyclone discoveries.

The study of engravings reveals an iconographic diversity: rare zoomorphic representations coexist with human figures, sometimes reduced to minimal traits. Polishers, grinding tools integrated with rocks, suggest practical use in connection with daily activities (preparation of tools or ritual objects). This site, among the richest in the Lesser Antilles, offers valuable insight into pre-Columbian societies and their relationship to the territory, between resource exploitation and spiritual dimension.

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