The active erosion of the Piton Bétoune in Cilaos, which revealed the remains of former human occupations, led to the opening of test pits in 2011 as part of a planned archaeological research project on the occupation of Les Hauts by marrons and Petits-Blancs.
Engraved stones
Seven engraved stones were geolocated and recorded at the summit of Le Piton, which rises to an altitude of 1,450 metres. The engravings are shallow, narrow and simply grooved with a metal object. The motifs are often geometric and abstract, with some recognisable drawings of houses, a boat and a star. An inscription, "100000 d’ore sou la gop", refers to a legendary hoard of coins supposedly hidden in the area, which the local population spent a century trying to find.
Agricultural habitat
A large number of dry-stone structures were found on the lower plateau bordering the Ravine Bassin, at an altitude of 1,150 metres. One of the structures is an 88 sq.m. square enclosure with wide walls surviving to a height of 70 cm; a test pit identified a foot-traffic level and a fireplace. The building seems to have been used to keep animals. Another 5 sq.m. structure in which domestic artefacts were found could have been a habitat used by Petits-Blancs known to have lived in Les Hauts from the early 19th century.
