Ancient Stone Carvings Discovered On Caribbean Island Of Montserrat

MessageToEagle.com – Hikers on the Caribbean island of Montserrat have discovered ancient stone carvings that archaeologists believe could offer valuable insight into the island’s pre-colonial history.

The petroglyphs are thought to be 1,000 to 1,500 years old and they are the first known of in the British Overseas Territory.

The stone carvings were discovered in January this year, but officials delayed announcing the finding until the petroglyphs’ authenticity could be confirmed by researchers.

“We have Amerindian artifacts on the island, but had not seen petroglyphs,” said Sarita Francis, director of the Montserrat National Trust. “These are the first that we know of, that have been found here.”

According to researchers the petroglyphs are similar to those that have been found on St Kitts, another nearby island.

Archaeological evidence suggests that ancient peoples first lived on Montserrat between 2,500 and 4,000 years ago. Arawak-speaking groups later inhabited the island, but are believed to have vacated it by the late 1400s following raids by another indigenous group, the Caribs.

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“They’re obvious statements of human presence. I think it’s pretty obvious that they’re sacred, in one way or another,” said George Mentore, a University of Virginia anthropologist who studies the indigenous cultures of the Caribbean and Amazonia

Whether the petroglyphs contain some kind of ancient message or not is too early to tell. The stone carving will need to be properly examined and encoded.

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