MAMORA BAY
At Mamora Bay there is an Amerindian village site important to the archaeology of Antigua. It is a type site, that is to say the broadline incised decoration of its pottery is an attribute to a particular style. This was first found at Mamora Bay by Dr. Fred Olsen about 1960, so it is known as the Mamora Bay Style or Complex. Having been dated (c. 900 - 1200 AD), we can thus date other Antiguan sites that possess that style of ceramics. Other sites that exhibit the style are at Emerald Cove, Indian Creek, Blackman's, Coconut Hall, Jumby Bay and Hawksbill.
The site was explored by Dr. Charles Hoffman of the University of Florida in 1962, who first described the ceramic style. When the Mamora Bay Hotel was built on the peninsula in 1963, several burials were found, the bodies having been put to rest in a squatting position.
Several hotels have since been built on the site; development has taken place without any scientific archaeological excavation. Much of our prehistoric heritage has been developed over by hotels. Locations that were prized by the Indians are also prized by today's developers! Unfortunately there is no Development Control in this regard.
A note on the characteristics of the Mamora Bay style. Rather thick walled hemispherical shaped vessels often decorated with a special design made with a curvilinear broadline incision. There are no handles or modelled incised and tabular lugs. The scratching of surfaces continues, as well as the appearance of three-pointed stones or zemis. Absent is white-on-red painting, also handles disappear. "Troumassoid" influences include: Wedge shaped lugs on a triangular rim and red painted ridges within rims.(Rouse).
