In early 2020, Public Entity Saba, in corporation with SABARC, requested Zemi Cultural Heritage Services to provide a desk-based assessment of the known and potential cultural heritage in the terrestrial and maritime area known as “Black Rocks”. The desk-based assessment concluded with recommendations for archaeological mitigation of Black Rocks under the Malta Treaty and the BES Maritime Management Act.

In October 2020, archaeological and maritime fieldwork was carried out in the Black Rocks area. The results showed that pre-Columbian occupations at Black Rocks date back to 3484 BC, making the site by far the oldest known on Saba to date. Use of the site appears to have been as a staging ground for fishing. Two ship cannons were located during the maritime survey, but there is no evidence of a shipwreck in the vicinity. This report completed the archaeological mitigation of the terrestrial area. However, mitigation of the two ship canons is necessary as they are located close to the proposed breakwater. The full report can be downloaded below.