T. Heilbron 2012.Botanical relics of the plantations - osodresie

(a) Satellite image of abandoned
and overgrown plantations,
Warappa creek, Commewijne
1.2.2 Legacy of the Plantations
(b) An historical planter’s house
on partly urbanized plantation Alliance,
Commewijne
Figure 2: Remnants of the plantations in Suriname
(c) A kettle for boiling sugarcane
syrup in the forest on plantation
de Hoop, Commewijne
In Suriname plantation history is still very well visible, both in abandoned and urbanized areas
(See: Fig. 2). Remnants of the extensive coastal drainage system are visible on satellite images
(2a), while on some former plantations the remains of buildings (2b) and various other remnants
and artifacts can be found (2c). Furthermore, names like ‘Blauwgrond’ (Blueground in Dutch)
for a former indigo plantation refer to historical links.
There is growing interest in Suriname for conserving, protecting and restoring plantations
for educational and heritage tourism purposes. Organizations like Foundation for the Protection
of Antiquities Suriname (STIBOSUR), The Built Heritage Foundation Suriname (SGES)
and restoration projects on former plantations Reijnsdorp (http://www.warappakreek.com),
Peperpot (http://plantagepeperpot.nl) and Frederiksdorp (http://www.frederiksdorp.
com) are examples of this.
Most archaeological research in Suriname has focused on the indigenous population (e.g.
Versteeg, 1998, 1992). Little research on the plantations and plantation era (roughly 1667-1873)
has taken place. One exception is the search for fort Buku, the stronghold of Boni, one of the
most famous maroons fighting against colonial authority in Suriname (Pel et al., 2008). Still, no
scientific research has been done on the botanical heritage of the plantation society.
1.2.3 Plants of the Plantations
There are a limited number of 17 th and 18 th century historical accounts that provide some information
on the plants present on the plantations in Suriname. Important are the recently rediscovered
diary of Linnaeus-trained botanist Daniel Rolander, who mentioned plants from the
gardens of slaves, such as Cleome gynandra L. used as a vegetable and Croton tiglium L. used
medicinally (Rolander, 2008). Other sources are the drawings of Maria Sibylla Merian (1705),
the collections of Gustav Dahlberg (1771), the Hermann herbarium (Van Andel et al., in press)
and historical descriptions of the colony (Herlein, 1718; Fermin, 1765; Hartsinck, 1770). Apart
from obvious cash crops, African crops were brought as ‘local known’ food for the slaves as
provisions on the Trans-Atlantic journey (Emmer, 2007). The more recent literature that covers
plantation crops in Suriname dates from the 1960s (e.g. Ostendorf, 1962; Wessels Boer, 1965).
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