Nevis / Special Interests / Archaeology

The first inhabitants of Nevis, the Sibonay, are thought to have arrived from South America 4,000 years ago and travelled between the islands in boats hollowed out of huge trees. They were followed by the Arawaks who named Nevis “Dulcina” meaning Sweet Island and then the Caribs who called it “Oualie” which means Land of Beautiful Waters. There is little that remains of the first settlers, but stone tools and finely crafted pottery has been found dating from the Arawak and Carib periods. A number of settlements are scattered across the island and the remains of what is believed to be an important Amerindian settlement were recently discovered at Coconut Walk and believed to date back around 1,400 years.