(Trinidad Express) Within its 116 square miles of land and the waters that surround it, Tobago possesses a vibrant culture and rich heritage that the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) remains committed to preserving. Through the Division of Tourism and Transportation, the THA continues to develop an authentic tourism product that reflects the island’s history and provides visitors with a taste of old-world charm.
The THA recently granted permission to a team of archaeologists to lead the scientific investigation of a cultural heritage project in the Scarborough Harbour. Led by Dr Kroum N Batchvarov, assistant professor of maritime archaeology at the University of Connecticut and Affiliated Scholar of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, the team will exhume the wrecks of the Dutch ships sunk in these waters during the 1677 battle between a French squadron and the Dutch West Indies Company.
The excavation of the remnants of one of the largest battles fought outside of Europe in the 1600s is expected to provide a wealth of information, not only on the technology, economy and environment of the time, but also on the history of Caribbean settlement.
“We are interested in benefiting the people of Tobago and the wider world,” Batchvarov said of the project that is being fully funded by the research team.
It is anticipated the exercise will protect Tobago’s natural and cultural assets while expanding cultural heritage tourism on the island.
All items recovered from the wrecks will belong to the people of Tobago. Among the things they are earmarked for, is the establishment of a world-class Maritime Archaeology section within the Tobago Museum at Fort King George.
Assemblyman Oswald Williams, Secretary of Tourism and Transportation, also indicated there may be a need to open an additional facility to house the materials recovered from the wrecks.
Already known for its many heritage sites, including the Fort King George Heritage Park, which won the 2011 Heritage Preservation Award—Best Historic Restoration Project (Large), Tobago possesses a host of untapped historic, cultural and natural resources. This venture is expected to further the efforts of the Division to enhance the island’s stature as a viable option for travellers interested in experiencing sites and activities that illustrate Tobago’s past and explain the island’s present.
“There is a healthy community out there that has interest in historical and cultural tourism and it is therefore an area that we are making a concerted effort to tap into,” said Williams. He believes the Scarborough Harbour excavation will create significant opportunities within the sector. “This project is an opportunity for us to preserve our heritage and culture, share it with visitors and reap the economic benefits of tourism all in one,” he said.
Scheduled to begin in June 2013, the exercise is estimated to take between three to five years. It will be conducted within the limits of all activities in the area to avoid interruption of the commercial operations at the harbour.
