The National Museum has unearthed some exciting finds, and its all thanks to Hurricane Ivan.
Patricia Green, architect, historian and consultant for the museum, points with tweezers to some 18th century graffiti, which was found under four layers of daub at the National Museum. Photo: Joanna Lewis |
Graffiti, thought to date back to the 18th century, has been discovered in a part of the building formally used as a jail house, along with parts of the original prison bars.
The finds have come following renovation work on the building to repair damage sustained when Ivan hit in September 2004.
The pencil markings, discovered on Thursday, have been found under four layers of daub. The markings are on the first layer of paint on the building’s original stone walls.
Parts of the original prison bars have also been unearthed under concrete blocks.
‘This is such an exciting find,’ said Patricia Green, architect, historian and consultant for the museum. ‘We are ecstatic.’
Ms Green, who has travelled from Jamaica to oversee the repairs, believes the graffiti was likely to have been done by a prisoner.
One word spells out the name ‘Thomas’, perhaps a prisoner’s name. The team at the museum also discovered what appears to be some drawings.
‘We have found our goal. This helps us to verify the authenticity, the use of the space and the age of the building,’ Ms Green said.
‘These finds also help to bring the museum to life. You can begin to imagine someone being here.’
A major challenge that now faces the museum is how best to preserve these new finds, in particular the pencil markings, which are susceptible to damage from humidity and pollution.
‘We are trying to get in touch with some organisations to find out how best to preserve it, but also how to display it to the public,’ said National Museum Director Anita Ebanks.
‘For the museum this is such an exciting find. It is another layer of history,’ she said.
Other additional finds hidden under layers of daub, include the outline of another window, sealed up with concrete.
‘We are hoping to find full original jail bars,’ Ms Green said.
Removing the layers of daub have also revealed that the original stone wall stops lower than originally thought and has been heightened with a concrete wall.
This, in addition to the building’s close proximity to the harbour and the remains of Fort George, gives Ms Green strong evidence that the building’s original purpose could have been as an ammunition store house. She believes it would have originally had a barrel-vault roof.
‘I believe this information could be found in Jamaican archives,’ Ms Green said. ‘It would be a very interesting research project for someone to undertake.’
Often referred to as ‘over ground archaeology’, infinite care is being taken as workers use tweezers and razorblades to delicately peel back the layers of daub. Although at times painstakingly slow, the museum’s Deputy Director of Curations and Programmes, Deborah Barnes-Tabora, stressed it is not delaying other repairs ongoing at the museum.
The building, which has stood for more than 150 years, has had a variety of uses prior to its take over by the National Museum in 1984. It has housed Cayman’s first ever library, Triple C school, the courthouse, the first ever post office, the jail and the Lands and Survey Department among others.
Asked whether Ms Green is expecting to unearth any more historical finds at the museum, she said: ‘I really think this is just the tip of the iceberg. Ivan has given us an amazing opportunity to discover all these wonderful treasures.’
It is hoped the museum will open to the public at the end of the year.
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