When I visited St Croix the first time I was of about the rich history of human existence on the island- specifically at Salt River. The site has seen many different periods of history: from the aboriginal tribes during the pre-Columbus era, to the French fort which flip flopped between several countries, to the colonial period when the island was covered in sugar cane cultivated by slaves, to current day use by campers and sand castle designers. Each wave of people and use has left their mark on the land, traces of settlements that can still be seen today. The aboriginals left pottery and stonework. The French left the mounds of their earthen fort. The colonial period left behind a damaged ecosystem of invasive species and painful memories. And today a vehicular roundabout drives over prehistoric midens so that beachgoers can park and houses perch on the hillsides.
Today I'd like to focus on the archeological remains that have been found on the island. A week or so ago I had the opportunity to visit the Andersen Collection, archived in the recesses of Fort Christiansvaern in Christiansted. This is a remarkable collection that Folmer Andersen, a Danish citizen by birth, began to collect in 1920. It is comprised of 15,000 stone, coral, shell, bone and clay artifacts, many of which came from Salt River.
Vomit sticks... used for ceremonial purposes... the gag reflex in me is grateful to not live during that time period.
Seeing these artifacts- many of them in great shape- was unbelievable. I've been to lots of museums that have items like this under thick glass to be gawked at by thousands of visitors each year. To see pieces just as spectacular with my bare eyes was an incredible experience. It reminded me again of what an important place St Croix is, and that the long legacy of human existence is something Crucians should take deep pride in. Unfortunately few people have the opportunity I did, as the collection is locked away in a windowless room. There is no facility on island that is safe enough from robbery and hurricanes that will accommodate the display of these pieces for the public. It is a lack that I have heard many people complain about, and as an outsider looking in I've seen the implications of an island that has limited access to it's heritage. St. Croix, despite it's small size, has a lot to be proud of. But unless it's people have access to those resources, how can they know the treasure on which they sit?
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