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Honduras - Vestiges d’une civilisation oubliée | ARTE

ARTE・28 minutes read

An international team of archaeologists led by Marc and Mike Lons is uncovering the mysteries of a long-lost culture in Honduras using advanced techniques, discovering artifacts indicating a sophisticated society with extensive trade relations. Despite facing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team remains optimistic about the future, constructing a museum to showcase the rich history of the region while collaborating with locals to restore and preserve the pre-Hispanic universe.

Insights

  • Advanced archaeological techniques in the Caribbean have unveiled a sophisticated society with extensive trade relations, as evidenced by significant artifacts like ceramic debris, ocarinas, rolling stamps, and jade beads, providing insights into the region's forgotten history and economic organization.
  • The excavation efforts led by Marc and Mike Lons in the Caribbean, despite facing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, are not only revealing a dense pre-Columbian population with over 50 new excavation sites but also emphasizing the importance of collaboration with locals to restore the region's history and showcase the broader impact of archaeology beyond mere excavation.

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Recent questions

  • What is the focus of the archaeological expedition in the Caribbean?

    Uncovering mysteries of a long-lost culture.

  • What challenges has the team faced during the excavation in the Caribbean?

    Disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • What significant artifacts were discovered in Guadaloupe during the excavation?

    Ceramic debris, ocarinas, rolling stamps, and jade beads.

  • What is the significance of the museum construction in Guadaloupe?

    Preserving and showcasing the rich history of the region.

  • How did the team utilize technology during the excavation in the Caribbean?

    Using 3D scanning technology and photogrammetry for documentation.

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Summary

00:00

Unearthing Lost Caribbean Culture: Archaeological Expedition

  • An international team of archaeologists is excavating in the Caribbean to uncover the mysteries of a long-lost culture in the tropical forests.
  • The expedition, led by Marc and Mike Lons, aims to understand the disappearance of the culture that lived in present-day Honduras, near the Aztec and Maya.
  • The team explores over 8000 km, uncovering the extensive network of the civilization and aims to reveal the forgotten history using advanced techniques.
  • Trorillot, a Caribbean town in Honduras, has a colonial history witnessed by the fortress of Santa Barbara, but little is known about the era preceding the Spanish conquest in 1492.
  • The Garifounas in Guadaloupe, descendants of African slaves and Caribbean natives, are among the poorest populations in Honduras, maintaining a unique identity.
  • Archaeologists discover significant artifacts in Guadaloupe, including ceramic debris, ocarinas, rolling stamps, and jade beads, indicating a sophisticated society with extensive trade relations.
  • The team uses 3D scanning technology to document artifacts accurately and efficiently, reconstructing containers and figurines with precision.
  • Excavations reveal forgotten establishments along ancient communication routes, shedding light on the population density and economic organization of the region.
  • The team faces challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the closure of schools and excavation sites, disrupting the progress of the research.
  • Despite setbacks, the construction of a museum in Guadaloupe continues, offering hope for preserving and showcasing the rich history of the region, with an optimistic outlook for the future.

24:02

Exploring Ancient Sites Along Watercourse in Panama

  • The team explores sites on promontories along a watercourse where large platforms were built for village homes.
  • These sites are strategically located on communication axes towards the land's interior, crossing the coastal cordillera.
  • After a 2-hour drive, Marcous and Mike reach Panama, a village in the valley where they search for hidden sites on private land.
  • They use a drone for aerial photography every 3 seconds to analyze the terrain and spot traces of buildings.
  • Marlisa cleans and lists the day's finds, including an unknown fragment of a figurine with facial features.
  • Mike uses photogrammetry to create 3D models from drone images, revealing archaeological structures.
  • The team discovers ancient sites in the valley, establishing links with coastal localities and classifying ceramics into three periods.
  • Archaeologists identify over 50 new excavation sites dating back to the pre-Columbian era, indicating a dense population.
  • An algorithm reconstructs the communication network of the era, showing routes from the coast to the interior.
  • Mike and Hannibal explore Guanara Island, finding ceramic debris with similar ornaments as on the continent, indicating cultural connections.

48:08

Unraveling mysteries through global photogrammetry research

  • Researchers worldwide can now utilize photogrammetry data to study and contribute to unraveling mysteries. Marc Rourne in Guadaloupe faces concerns about the lack of children before the museum opening. He discovers the absence of school, prompting a visit to Toa for construction materials, hoping not to return too late.
  • The excavation campaign in Honduras is concluding, revealing a pre-Hispanic universe. Archaeologists are uncovering a thriving culture lost over five centuries ago, with sites like Corasa Alta still holding secrets. Collaborating with locals, they aim to restore the region's history, showcasing the discipline's impact beyond mere excavation.
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