Dominican historian Lennox Honychurch says there are lessons to be learnt from his new book “The Archeology of Dominica”.
The publication launched on Wednesday, highlights the work that has been done in archaeology here.
One of the main sections is about the Kalinago people and the other groups of Amerindian people who came before them. “It shows how the different indigenous groups who occupied Dominica over the last 5,000 years lived ‘self-sufficiently”, according to Honychurch
“Today we depend so much on things from outside. We have this huge food import bill and here are our people who lived entirely for thousands of years off the island itself,” he articulated. “This is the period of pre-Columbian archaeology” he explained.
The book also covers the latest excavations of historical archaeology that deals mainly with the African presence on Dominica at places such as Grand Bay, and the plantation villages in the parish of St. Mark and near Portsmouth. There is also a chapter on under water archaeology of sunken wrecks off the island.
“It is early days yet. There will be new discoveries,” he added. “but this book brings us up to date with the work that has been done in all aspects of archaeology so far. As a result, the Dominican public and visiting academics can learn about the state of this research into this other branch of our heritage.”
many dominicans cannot trace their history. all the Hilairs came from delices. the qwner of the estate was a man called Hilaire from France so he named all his 180 slaves HILAIRE.two of them were married to caribs. one was a stone cutter who was lent to the bishop of roseau to cut stones for the catholic church. my great grand father wrote the speech for the opening of the convent but was not allowed to deliver it because he was an anglican.he started football in dominica and the white peoples club.he also owned geneva estate.he came to da in 1848.his brother was an officer on rodneys flagship
Do you have history on our people ?
DNO, where is my comment on caribbean/american history being fabricated to portray european as explorers and innovators. And honychurch should inform his people about that history being fabricated because our children are still learning fake history…
Or is dno owned by whites so u dont want to post my comment???
to the making of many books there is no end….Ecclesiastes 12:12
Godd bless this man , so pround of you as a Dominica. You are difinately a DOMINICAN TO THE BONE AND I KNOW YOU LOVE YOUR BIRTH COUNTRY..
AMUSED;
FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THEMSELVES AS THE ALMIGHTY HAS MADE US, WE DONT CALL ONE ANOTHER IDIOTS WITHOUT SAYING WHERE WE SEE THE IDIOCY BECAUSE WE ARE ALL ABOUT CORRECTING WRONGS AND PRAISING THE RIGHTS.
INEEDFREE AND ITOOKFREE
ADMIN., THANKS
Mr Honeychurch I hope u read this!
PLEASE MAKE AN E-BOOK VERSIONS OF ALL YOUR PUBLISHINGS!! E-books are inn for GOOD.
I would love to have the Dominican Story plus this new book in my iPad book collection. You would reach far more readers with this and anyone with an iPhone/ smart phone and or tablet would be ready available to purchase and download your books. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE SIR..THANK YOU.
LIZAVIER4JESUS;
I APPRECILOVE YOUR RESPONSE.
HOWEVER,WE ARE THINKING OF THE GLORIOUS PAST OF LIFE ON THE CONTINENT; EVEN WHILE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARSH REALITY OF SLAVERY OUR PAST GOES CENTURIES BEFORE.
THE FALSE TEACHINGS OF AFRICANS BEING BACKWARD AND UNCIVILISED BELONGS TO THOSE WHO BROUGHT US INTO THE MISERY OF SLAVERY;WITH COLLABORATION OF THE TREACHEROUS BLACKS WHO WOULD SELL US FOR THE LASTEST FAD. IN THOSE DAYS THE EXCHANGE WAS GUNS AND A FEW SILLY THINGS JUST TO BE IN WITH THE INVADERS. IT’S NOT DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY THEM TODAY IN WAITIKUBULI AND OTHERS AREAS WHERE RAMPANT POVERTY EXISTS SIDE BY SIDE WITH EXTRAVAGANCE.
ADMIN, THANKS
@indeedfree
I can also see with you here. And I believe in the promise of the Book of Revelation, as well.
The old heaven and earth will be done away with, and the new heaven and earth will appear in its glory and splendour. Our Dominica will be part of it.
That is the hope that I would like for our children to maintain; not the memory of the miserable aspects of slavery, which can never happen again.
May God’s Will be done!
For those of you who can do better than lennox go ahead and show your stuff or just shot the F- up and do better go ahead and show your stuff.
I plan on buying this book and am indeed grateful that through his previous, Dr. Honychurch has taken the time and care to capture our journey through time. Good thing we are not now trying to find someone to write our history!
About this quote in the story above, “It shows how the different indigenous groups who occupied Dominica over the last 5,000 years lived ‘self-sufficiently”: the present Roseau to airport route takes most travelers through the Carib Reserve. One cannot help noticing and commenting on these thousands of acres of land which were provided to the Caribs several decades ago to help themselves.
It would be very instructive to know what has prevented them from doing more for themselves than some non-caribs who have had neither land, money, sympathy, or other tangible and intangible support to start with.
Great news but there are several missing elements for a good story, for those of us in remote areas, and the use of the internet we should have given a sneak peak about chapters and a few citations here and there maybe?
Looking forward to what should be a very interesting book.
Where can we buy it?
I think Mr Honychurch is an excellent scholar, and he knows alot more than what he is saying
Mr Honeychurch you are an amazing Dominican Proud to be a brother of the same soil as you sir. Thank you for your hard work sir!
As a current teacher at a primary school I can attest to the fact that our history and culture are slowly being lost.
With all the ‘rights of the child’ and the contents of the television it can be concluded that most of our children are Americanized. Their way of dress, language, food and behaviour are all characteristics they display.
I hope this book, along with the gem written by Ms JnoBaptiste (Our Dominica), is utilized by the teachers. The government also needs to rewrite the curriculum and implement civics at the primary schools.
I also support the comments calling for our African Heritage.
Thank You.
As a former primary school teacher, I agree wholeheartedly.
Great work! I have in my library the Dominica story’ and I am sure to purchase this one. But like some of the other readers expressed let us document thoroughly the African ancestry and the Arawaks. Let our history be complete.
Very important work Doc, we need more books on Dominican history in our schools, many of us doesnt even know our history, keep up the good works.
Congratulations. I will definately get this book. Lennox is truly an asset to Dominica.
I’m happy that we do have at least one historian in Dominica but who will talk about Dominican history. The things like that attempted coup, the dread act and why it came about, things like that. We live in Dominica and don’t even know its recent history. Who is telling our children about these things? These thing are the national history of Dominica. The Dominica that gained independance the few years ago. Do we even know why we gained independance, the circumstances leading up to it? Are you really Dominica? I wonder why we gained that independance everyday.
@Watcher
I understand what you are saying; you have a good point!
However, as I read your concern, spiritual wisdom reminded me that God’s Word in the Holy Bible was not written, until many, many, many years after the situations took place.
But now, those words are my Life today, and that of many like me, perhaps yours too–who have believed, received, conceived, and becoming rooted and grounded in Love, knowing God Almighty, Eternal Spirit, and His Ways by His influence in His Person of Love–Jesus Christ.
The situations of the Old Testament happened thousands of years before the situations of the New Testament would ever manifest in their distinctive form.
For example, generations into generations of the children Israel–God’s chosen people–the prophet Isaiah evolved, as God Almighty called Him to prohecy about the coming of Jesus Christ into this world; but that prophecy was spoken 800 years before the birth of Jesus.
I am saying all of this to remind and encourage you, and other fellow Dominicans, to maintain hope. Whatever the message of our Dominica, by the Will of God, those who are destined to know those messages will live to know them.
Believe that God Almighty has called people, who will hear and obey His calling, to do their purpose of Life–a truth and hope we can only accept by our faith and trust in His ability to rule over us. Without God’s rulership in our lives we can do nothing!
For that is who God is: Our Creator and our Supreme ruler. He executes His work through His servants, for the good of those who love Him.
That is Life. It has nothing to do with fake doctines, man-made rules/laws/maps, or religious teachings and practices.
Life functions by perfect Principles, for those Principles are of divine guidance, as Love is Divine–believe it or not.
Let us give thanks to God Almighty, for the work of Lennox Honeychurch today; but Lennox will not be the only one–that is for sure.
Liz4Jesus:
What is your point? Wouldn’t it be enough for you to comment on the issue or item at hand without preaching?
Yes, this new book by Dr. Honeychurch will be a tremendous asset for educators and all those interested in the historical archaeology of Dominica.
Great food for thought! I remember vividly the attempted coup. I heard bullet shells falling on the roof of my house. The then Commissioner of police was shot and his car crashed into the Boston’s house at the intersection of barth road and cork street.. Mervin Beautrrau saved his life… U brought back memories! It really needs to be documented…..
Bath Road. Sorry
@Farmers Son
It must be that Watcher’s mislead me. As it seemed to me that he/she is saying that the future generation will not know the history of Dominica, based on the question marks in that comment.
Watcher writes: “Who is teling our children these things? And, “I wonder why we gained independence everyday”
If those issues Watcher mentioned, are written in Lennox’s preseent book or books prior to this one–I do not know–then what is he/she lamenting about, children will not know, and he/she does not know?
I responded to that lament–who will tell, who will tell, who will tell the story of Dominica to the future generation, saying that by God’s will the story will be told!
If this is preaching to you, so be it!
Read Watchers comment again, and if your understand it, you will also understand my point.
WE NEED TO TAP INTO THE RESOURCEFULNESS OF LENNOX HONEYCHURCH.WE NEED YOUNG PEOPLE TO UNDERSTUDY THIS MAN.HE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST DOMINICAN.LENNOX PLEASE MAKE MORE VIDEOS AND DOCUMENTARY.YOU CAN SAVE OUR HISTORY.GREAT WORK.
Lennox WAS once a great Dominican with credibility, but I cannot say that about him now.. I own his previous publications, but after considering his stance, on the current Dominica situation, I had to look at him differently.. I hope he is not he one writing the history of the current situation in Dominica.. It will be flawed. History is not only about, events, people, places, dates and things. The historian has an obligation to put things in perspective for the readers, and I do not trust Lennox with that!
@ NO Hogwash, that’s the same thing I’ve been saying.
If you do not like what Lennox has written, write your own book. If you do not like his “stance”, come out in the open and declare yours. Anonimity on both counts will get you nowhere. Unlike you, Lennox has exhibited, without reservation, the courage of his convictions.
You said a Hostorian has to put thongs on perspective, but think about that statement, his perspective will not be the same as yours an mine so I he does yes! It will be flawed.
History has to be told as it happened with no injections and biases.
One of the Greatest Dominican
GOOD WORK,LENNOX.
WE ARE WAITING FOR THE REAL HISTORY OF AFRICANS ON THIS ISLAND.
OUR HISTORY DOESNT START WITH HISTORY
THANK YOU
….OUR HISTORY DOESNT START WITH SLAVERY
@indeedfree
Nice going! I really like that! Slavery, whatever it was, is not an aspect of existence that our children need to know about.
According to Martin Luther King junior: “Let Freedom Reign!”
We now have freedom–by God’s deliverance alone– so why disturb our minds and plague our children with the things of slavery, which for sure, was the work of our enemy/God’s enemy–the devil.
@Lizavier4Jesus:
Liz, I disagree with you on this one. We do not have to teach our children to hate but they must know our history, including slavery. Why are we still discriminated against? How will they understand the concept of sex slaves and the continuing exploitation of child labour?
For over 400 years we were not allowed to read and write nor to own property. We were the property of the white man, unless you equate the white man with the devil, which I don’t. We cannot hide the truth because it’s not pleasant to some. We still teach about the children of Israel who were slaves in Egypt thousands of years ago. We teach about George Washington who lived over 200 years ago. We teach about the Nazi holocaust which sent over 6 million Jews to death camps and gas chambers in Germany, Austria, etc. Why should we not talk about slavery which officially ended around 1864 but the Negro only had equal righrs in the USA in 1964? Why Liz, Why?
@ ineedfree…I don’t know u or your level of education, but judging by your comments i can safely say that u are the biggest idiot in this world.
@South Man
Thank you for your sincerity. We have a good relationship, that is for sure.
I can see why you would not agree with me, for that one of mine is not one that too many people will agree with–for it is one of those unique ideas in me alone, or very, very, few of us.
It is just that Spiritual instinct has taught me that I do not have to always to write or say things for everyone to agree with me. In other words, I need to learn how to take the heat of the kitchen also–otherwise I will never go there. Lol!
Can I tell you that I do not know very much of what happened during the years of slavery? But the little bit I have learned, through reading or visual information has always angered me.
Had I not been a person with the mind of Love, I would nurture rebellion in my heart, towards the people of today, whom I know that their ancestors were responsible for the gruesome treatment of slavery.
I know many black peopel who maintain that mentallity –but there is nothing most of these people of today can do to change the action of their ancestors.
However, that rebelious mind in most people, is the reason the memories of the torment and torture of slavery will not go away. And yes, it is a fact that much more than a few of our oppressors still exist today.
The turth is that I go by the principle of Love–the ability to forgive. No, we can never forget or erase what happened in the past, but we do not have to unnecessarilly rub it in–especailly that we cannot control how the minds of others will respond to information, that is the greatest concern.
Forgiving heals the pain, and once the pain is healed, freedom overwhelms conscience–peace and joy begin to flourish mind, heart, and soul. Life takes its course in us, as Love overwhelms us–we want nothing to do with memories of torment, torture, and death.
The message of the Bible is defintely different from some of the message of natural history–in that the situations are set for a positive fulfillment in the future, some fulfillment has already come to pass, others are destined to happen.
What is the fulfillment of the message slavery in natural history? As I have already said-anger, frustration, hatred, further rebelion–for we are not like the generations of yesterday.
But it is okay South Man, I appreciate your objection, especially that you did in a respectable manner–you stated your point and I have accepted it.
Sorry for you boss man.. But most Dominicans Like my self have Kalinago mixed in us. So our story does not start with slavery it starts with the Amerindians that came to live on the island we now call Dominica. It starts with our 4 mothers who came here to live freely then our 4 fathers who were shackled here to be slaves.
Too bad Honeychurch has no interest in the Arawaks, maybe its because they were closer to the Africans than the fairer Caribs. If you want to speak of self sufficiency, lets go further back into history, long before the Caribs…….
What nonsense. Have you seen a copy of the book? This news report is just a short clip. The book has archaeology in its widest sense. There is a chapter about sites at Grand Bay with the first Africans and at the Cabrits and on plantations and in villages around Soufriere and about the people who occupied the islands before the Kalinago. The book explains that there is a lot more work to do in archaeology. That this is just the beginning. It goes back to geology also. Why are you people so quick to condemn people when you do not have the full facts?
Good point. We were always taught from Mr Honeychurch’s Text books at school that the Arawaks were genocide, when I came to the US i was suprised to learn that there is indeed decendants of Arawaks living in Trinidad, Guyana and a few other countries, there is even a language spoken. I also learnt that there was a group of native people who lived on Dominica long before the Kalinago folks settled, it would be nice to know some more about these folks. It would be of interest to learn more about our African ancestors as well.
Soon Dr. Honeychurch will be recognized as professor Lennox Honeychurch of Anthropology.
Very good Doc. I wish you as well as Bernard Wiltshire and other academics can sit and write a book on African History for our schools including our State College and U.W.I here.
Where can I buy this book?
searched amazon, cant see it.