Connected by Water A maritime perspective of Plantation Esthersrust and Suriname’s defence system between the 17th and 19th century Santosh A. Singh Cover: bird eye view of the planting beds at Plantation Esthersrust (photo by Fabian Vas, February 2020) Connected by Water A maritime perspective of Plantation Esthersrust and Suriname’s defence system between the 17th and 19th century Santosh A. Singh Master Thesis (4ARX-0910ARCH) Student Number: S2279185 Supervisor: Dr. M.R. Manders Heritage and Museum Studies Leiden University, Faculty of Archaeology Leiden, July 13th, 2020 (final) Santosh A. Singh [email protected] Contents Preface Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 Theoretical framework ......................................................................................... 1 Research questions ............................................................................................... 3 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 4 Research goals ...................................................................................................... 5 Thesis structure .................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1. Methodology ........................................................................................ 7 1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................... 7 1.2. Archival and literature study ......................................................................... 7 1.3. Onsite ............................................................................................................ 9 Drone survey ............................................................................................... 10 Camera ........................................................................................................ 11 Measurements of the structures .................................................................. 11 1.4. Lab work ..................................................................................................... 11 Chapter 2. The story of a cotton plantation ...................................................... 13 2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................ 13 2.2. The spread of plantations ............................................................................ 13 Short description of rivers, lakes, and creeks in Suriname. ........................ 15 2.3. Types of plantations .................................................................................... 19 Sugar plantations ......................................................................................... 19 2.4. Vaartrenzen en loostrenzen ......................................................................... 20 2.5. Cotton and cotton plantations ...................................................................... 21 2.6. Plantation Esthersrust, a brief history ......................................................... 28 Layout .......................................................................................................... 29 Importance of water (polder systems) drainage and the enemies of the cotton shrubs ................................................................................................. 31 Local vessels ................................................................................................ 33 Plantation vessels ......................................................................................... 34 Plantation barges (tentboats) ........................................................................ 34 Tentpontje .................................................................................................... 35 Lastdraagers ................................................................................................... 35 Keenponten .................................................................................................... 36 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 36 Chapter 3. Colonial defence systems between the 17th and 19th Century ..... 38 3.1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 38 3.2. Forts and posts ............................................................................................. 39 Fort Sommelsdijk ......................................................................................... 40 Fort Nieuw Amsterdam and its complementary forts. ................................. 43 Paths and posts of importance ..................................................................... 46 3.3. Military post at the mouth of the Warappa Creek ....................................... 47 The British attack in 1804 ............................................................................ 48 Military post plantation Alsimo (1835) ....................................................... 50 Defending Suriname with ships ................................................................... 51 Conclusion.......................................................................................................... 52 Chapter 4. Maritime cultural landscape and coastal morphology of Suriname ............................................................................................ 53 4.1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 53 4.2. Maritime landscape and cultural landscape................................................. 53 Maritime ....................................................................................................... 53 Landscape .................................................................................................... 54 Cultural landscape ........................................................................................ 54 Maritime cultural landscape ......................................................................... 55 Cognitive landscape: the man in landscape and the landscape in man ........ 56 Landscape character ..................................................................................... 56 A cultural perspective (tangible and intangible aspects) ............................. 57 4. 3. Transport zones by Westherdahl (1998a) ................................................... 60 Trans isthmian land transport ...................................................................... 60 Ferry corridors or routes of regular transportation ...................................... 61 Zones based on river valleys or other far-reaching watercourses ................ 61 Coastal transport zones ................................................................................ 62 Estuary lagoon zone ..................................................................................... 62 Lake zones ................................................................................................... 62 Zones of open sea ........................................................................................ 62 Transit points .............................................................................................. 63 4.4. Ships & vessels ............................................................................................ 64 International ships ....................................................................................... 65 4.5. Geology, climate and coastal morphology of Suriname ............................. 66 Geology ........................................................................................................ 66 Climate ......................................................................................................... 67 4.6. Coastal morphology and the Surinamese Coast .......................................... 68 The 30-year cycle of shifting mud banks .................................................... 68 Conclusion.......................................................................................................... 73 Chapter 5. Analyses and Results ........................................................................ 75 5.1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 75 5.2. Layout and observations ............................................................................. 75 5.4. Drone survey and imagery .......................................................................... 78 5.2. Analyses ...................................................................................................... 87 5.3. Special finds ................................................................................................ 89 Conclusion.......................................................................................................... 94 Chapter 6. Heritage and Protection Laws. ........................................................ 95 6.1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 95 6.2. What is Heritage? ........................................................................................ 95 6.3. Legislation ..................................................................................................