MILL REEFFrom about 400 A.D. agricultural Amerindians from South America built a permanent village within the today’s Mill Reef Club property. They lived here for about 600 years, depending on sustenance from natural resources readily available from the coral reefs and small islands of the area, as well as the fertile valleys behind the shoreline. The village was placed near a small hypothetical stream and in a sheltered position behind a low ridge parallel to the sea.The stream gave rise to the name of the site as the "Brook".
First Archaeology - Dr. Fred Olsen, Dr. Irving Rouse of Yale and Robertson "Happy Ward," assisted by Mill Reef Club members, commenced the first scientific archaeological excavations in Antigua in December 1958. It is estimated that over one hundred thousand sherds were collected. Subsequently the best artifacts were displayed in the old mill tower museum at the Mill Reef gate. Most of the artifacts are now housed at the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda.
Perhaps the most interesting find, uncovered through careful excavation, was a pair of large green stone celts or axes found in association with ash. A charred house posthole was also located, so it was assumed the hafted celts were consumed in a burned down house. Radiocarbon dates from the ash gave a reading of about 550 A.D. Today, archaeologists refer to Mill Reef as a "type site." Its style of pottery is indicative of the middle period of Antiguan prehistory, 500 - 900 A.D. For decoration, white painted bands on a red background were applied by brush. This form of painting followed the earlier Indian Creek style, in which the pottery was painted overall with a white colour and then rubbed off to form the design.
