Development of archaeology

Archaeological heritage belongs to everyone. Its scientific study, conservation and presentation are coordinated by the State within the framework of "Livre V" of the heritage code. In 2010, the creation of the Réunion regional archaeology service strengthened this public service mission, previously lacking on the island.

Although the search for the remains of the past has long fired the imagination of islanders, archaeology is a methodical and scientific practice. A social science, archaeology brings this heritage to light both literally and metaphorically by accurately revealing the historical information it contains. This twin emergence is nothing like as spontaneous as fictional works would have us believe. It requires administrative, scientific and technical skills and is implemented within a legal framework. Since the department of cultural affairs took responsibility for this framework and brought together these skills, archaeology has become a practical reality, bringing to life what lies beneath the surface of Réunion island.

This new service has already worked on a large number of sites. The growth of this discipline is based firstly on a scientific research programme for planned archaeology, support for rescue archaeology, the use of work and inventory tools, and the long-term management of archaeological scientific data including portable archaeological finds and excavation archives. The second area focuses on providing a wide audience with research results in many different forms.

Over the course of a decade, multiple archaeological operations have been implemented across Réunion, addressing complex issues in Les Bas and Les Hauts. Archaeological data provides a factual response, without authorial interpretation, to the questions everyone asks themselves about Réunion’s social foundations. It provides fresh insight into a large number of fields not recorded in the written archives.

The archaeology of Réunion is now an integral part of the scientific landscape of the region and its heritage and bolsters the cultural foundations of a democratic society.