c. AD 1440 – 1460: The site of Morne Souffleur, discovered during a systematic survey of La Désirade, shares striking similarities with the nearby Morne Cybèle site located on the island’s high…

c. AD 1440 – 1460: The site of Morne Souffleur, discovered during a systematic survey of La Désirade, shares striking similarities with the nearby Morne Cybèle site located on the island’s high volcanic plateau. Both sites are positioned to take advantage of the sheltered coastal plain while remaining protected by the island’s steep northern cliffs and unpredictable sea currents. The discovery of these twin sites on such a rugged and challenging landscape suggests a deliberate late-period expansion into marginal environments. These settlements provided strategic vantages over the surrounding maritime channels just decades before the arrival of Europeans.