Past and Present Research in the Underwater Archaeology of Saint-Pierre, Martinique (FWI)

International audienceThis paper presents underwater archaeology research being conducted in Saint-Pierre Martinique (FWI) since the1970’s focusing on port dump and shipwrecks vestiges. Doban port dump site as well as the identified Biscaye andunidentified Guinguette wreck sites are presented. Both the dump and wreck sites demonstrate the importance ofmaritime activity at the main port of Martinique and of the French West Indies in general, that stopped because ofthe eruption of Mount Pelée in 1902. Archaeological research has traditionally focused on the wrecks from this tragicevent, but there is also real potential for research into more ancient sites