Montserrat before the Volcano: A Survey of the Plantations prior to the1995 Eruptions

AbstractOxford Archaeology carried out a survey on Montserrat in 1995 as part of an environmental study for the proposed extension to the airport runway. At that time the volcano was merely represented by a small sulphurous vent or soufrière, high on the mountain and with no activity in recorded history. On a visit to Montserrat in May 1995 the historic buildings of the Trants estate next to the airport were investigated, and limited clearance was undertaken on the most ruinous part. On the basis of information obtained from the Montserrat National Trust some fifty estate sites were identified on Montserrat, and thirty-nine of these were visited or seen by OA in order to characterise their remaining buildings. The eruption of the volcano shortly after these explorations has dramatically altered the island's life and landscape, not least in burying a considerable number of historic sites.