Project Introduction & Call for Applications

Next field season: to be confirmed

The Department of Archaeology, University of Bristol, in conjunction with the St Lucia National Trust, will shortly be announcing the details of the third season of this 4-week field school in the principles and practice of the new discipline of historical landscape archaeology. The project is based at Balenbouche Estate, an 18th century sugar plantation in St Lucia, West Indies. Applications for the next field season will be opened soon. In the meantime, if you would like to indicate your interest in participating in this project, please send an email to Julie.Shackleford@bris.ac.uk. Applicants may also be interested in our MA in Historical Archaeology of the Modern World

	The field school provides full training in the principles and practice of historical landscape archaeology. In conjunction with the St Lucia National Trust, a series of formal and informal lectures introducing Caribbean historical archaeology and the heritage management and tourism issues will be provided.
The field school is an accredited course offered by University of Bristol.

Results of previous seasons During the first field season, archaeological remains at Balenbouche were identified and mapped. As well as an 18th century sugar plantation, a completely unexpected early 18th century coffee works, and the remains of Carib and Arawak activity -including a the post hole remains of a timber structure - were identified. The main study area includes two water mills and associated landscape features including areas of slave accommodation. In the second season, an complex area of stratified prehistoric and historical occupation was excavated in open area. Excavations were also carried out on the slave accommodation area. Archaeological material of the 17th century was identified.

The project's long-term aims are to examine the landscape change from prehistoric times through the early European pioneer and contact period, to the growth of the sugar economy in colonial St Lucia into the late 19th century. The project is directed by Mark Horton and Dan Hicks.

The Colonial Landscape project provides participants with

• a unique introduction to Caribbean archaeology and historical archaeology working alongside members of the St Lucia National Trust
• an introduction to the new perspectives offered by British landscape archaeology
• full training in field survey and stratigraphic excavation.

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The project is directed by
Dr Dan Hicks and Dr Mark Horton