1976 – 1988: Dr. William Hodges, a medical missionary and avocational archaeologist, first discovered the large archaeological site at En Bas Saline that was later investigated by professional teams.

1976 – 1988: Dr. William Hodges, a medical missionary and avocational archaeologist, first discovered the large archaeological site at En Bas Saline that was later investigated by professional teams. Following his discovery, Kathleen Deagan directed a series of intensive excavations involving electromagnetic conductivity surveys, surface collections, and systematic test pitting. These modern techniques allowed researchers to create a detailed topographic map of the village and identify specific features like a well-like structure and various residential mounds. The project aimed to verify the historical accounts of Columbus’s first voyage through rigorous physical evidence. The collaboration between avocational and professional archaeologists was essential for documenting one of the most historically significant sites in the Caribbean.