The Diaries
 
October 28th 2008
:: 2008 :: 10/27 - 10/28 - 10/29 - 10/30 - 10/31
11/01 - 11/02 & 11/03 - 11/04 - 11/05- 11/06 - 11/07 - 11/08 & 11/09 - 11/10 - 11/11 - 11/12 - 11/13 - 11/14 - 11/15 - 11/16 - 11/17 - 11/18 - 11/19 - 11/20 - 11/21 - 11/22 - 11/23 - 11/25 - 11/26 - 11/27 - 11/28
11/29 - 11/30
12/01 - 12/02
- The shovels are very busy -  

Jean Boggio seeking for pictures
Photo : Max GUEROUT

At the end of the night the wind became stronger and it started to rain …

In the morning, after a short briefing, the team goes north of the island, on the site, where in 2006, we brought to light parts of the habitat of the slaves. Between two velvet makers, nothing lets guessing, neither the archaeological site, nor the traces of its fill. The stakes which marked the corners of the site are the only still visible ones on the level of the ground.

With enthusiasm, each grabbed a shovel, most injured with a hiker's rhythm knowing that the day will be long, the youngest staying down very enthusiast in task. After about one hour the blue tarp appears within which we had covered the wall of the habitat of the slaves.

If the rain of the night and the overcast sky favours the work, by avoiding dust, more the pit digs more the shovelfuls must be sent high, which makes the task increasingly physical.

Sylvain in full action
Photo : Max GUEROUT

Jean, camera with in hand or on his tripod according to the circumstances, films these rowdy characters whose enthusiasm to dig the sand diverts it a little.

“come on, must return, only 32 days and a half...”  “The time passes fast”
Sylvain leaves his neophyte's impressions
Photo : Max GUEROUT

In the afternoon the sun takes back its rights and crushes us of his powerful radiance. Sylvain alternates drawing sessions and working sessions with the shovel, he leaves on our briefing table his impressions of neophyte in the form of drawings not stripped of humour.

In the end of the afternoon, we reach the level where we had left the excavation in 2006. A small plate of copper pierced with hole of rivets is updated in the archaeological layer; the bond with the excavation of 2006 is thus symbolically made.

During this time, in the Northern point, a heave of more than three meters beats down on the sand of the beach in a dazzling of foam and spray soon taken by the trade wind of the South-east…