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WEREHPAI
An archeological site in SW-Suriname
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The Werehpai archaeological researchis a Project of
the Stichting Surinaams Museum &Conservation International
Suriname
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Werehpai in SW-Suriname at ca 10 km
east of the Trio village Kwamalasamutu
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The site was found by a Trioof the name Kamanja.
He reported it to the Granmanof Kwamalasamutu, Asongo.
The Granman spoke to Conser-vation International Suriname.C.I.S.
contacted the Stichting
Surinaams Museum and Smithsonian Institution.
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A team was formed of two archaeologists:
Dr. Aad H. Versteeg (Stichting Surinaams Museum)
Dr. Abelardo E. Sandoval (Smithsonian Institution)
and of a landscape and soil specialist:
Ir. D. Noordam (Stichting Surinaams Museum).
This team, with the help of many Trio and
other people, carries out the Project.
The field phase at Werehpai has now been finished.
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In case you want more information on this Project:
mail us at : [email protected]
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The Rockformations
Granite rocks of enormous sizeon top of each other
formedcavities in which the petro-glyphs were made in pre-Columbian
times.
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Impressive rocks in the tropical forest
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When the research team arrivedfor the first time at the
site,
the Trio already had divided the wholecomplex into Houses and
Rooms.
These designations have been keptas references, also the name
Werehpai,
(an ancestral female hero of theTrio) for the site has been
kept.
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Eastern
entry
House 6
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Granite boulders
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Entry House 5
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Werehpai 313 petroglyphs
The other 25 petroglyph-sitesin Suriname: 192 petroglyphs
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Werehpai is really unique,
in Suriname, but also
in the whole of the Guianas
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From simple
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to snake-like
motifs
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To wonderfulcreatures, thatcertainly do notbelong to the world
around us.
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Often the glyphs are on
quitespecific, carefullychosen
locations
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The headsare oftenspecial
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Often individuals are seen that belong together
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Sometimes the whole wall is used
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An impressiveperson is the
last one toshow
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Testpits yielded pottery and charcoal
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Sifting the soil of the testpits, here by
Kamanja
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Except the stunning quality and quantityof petroglyphs,
this site had another big surprise:
Three charcoal samples resulted in datingsbetween 5000 and 4200
years before present
Pottery in the layers of these samples has the same age.
Werehpai has the oldest potteryexcavated so far in Suriname!
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Reporting the results in Kwamalasamutu, GranmanAsongo is the
second from left. Kamanja sits at right
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The
Crew
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The resultsIn 2004 192 petroglyphs of 25 locations were
registered in Suriname.
In July 2007 this number has increased to 505, in 26
locations.
Werehpai is the only location where petroglyphshave been found
in combination with potteryand charcoal.
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This research is possible
Thanks to the Trio of Kwamalasamutu, especially Granman Asongo,
Kamanja, Koita, Menio and Seewi.
The Stichting Surinaams Museum
Conservation International Suriname
Smithsonian Institution
BHP Billiton Maatschappij Suriname
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Photographs
Dirk Noordam
Aad Versteeg
Chris Healy
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The Future
The fieldwork has been finished and 7
charcoal samples have been dated.
The next phase consists of the study of
petroglyphs and pottery and other artifacts.
The results will be two books.
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A scientific book in English that discussesmain issues and
details of this site and shows all 313 petroglyphs in photos and
drawings.
A more general book in English, Dutch and Trio that provides the
main issues.
An exposition of the results in Paramaribo and in
Kwamalasamutu.
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After the publication of these books
on Werehpai, a next step will be
the investigation of other sites in
South-West Suriname.
