The Curacao Cultural Landscape Project is an exciting, long-term collaborative effort involving experts from around the world. Our project is a partnership between the NAAM Foundation (Curacao), Simon Fraser University (Canada), QLC Inc.|InTerris Registries (USA), the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology (Germany), and the University of Queensland (Australia). This international team brings together diverse expertise to uncover and understand Curacao’s rich environmental history.
Our Goals
Our main goal is to piece together the story of Curacao’s natural environment and biodiversity over thousands of years, starting with the first people living on Curacao more than almost 6000 years ago. To do this, we use a wide range of scientific disciplines, including:
- Archaeology: Studying human history through material culture (artifacts and structures).
- Geophysical Science: Exploring the physical properties of sites.
- Palynology: Analyzing pollen samples to understand past vegetation and introduction of species.
- Zooarchaeology: Examining animal remains to learn about past ecosystems and human-animal interactions.
By combining these fields, we aim to create a comprehensive picture of how Curacao’s environment has evolved from the time of its first inhabitants up to the mid-twentieth century.
Support and Funding
Our project has received generous grants from Simon Fraser University and the National Geographic Foundation, which have helped us continue our work.
