Fort Boekoe withdrawn from the swamps

If one informs to Boekoe in contemporary Suriname, he will rapidly be referred to the military barracks ‘Memre-Boekoe Kazerne’ in Paramaribo. ‘Remember Boekoe’, it means: remember the battle and the fall of the then assumed impregnable fortification. The history of Boekoe indeed is colourful. Deeply hidden situated on an island between the swamps near the river Cottica in the north-east of Suriname, the strengthened settlement served as an operating base for the guerrilla action of rebellious Maroons. Under command of the legendary Granman Boni the successes, which were achieved from Boekoe almost, caused the perdition of the colony halfway the eighteenth century. The fortress itself was surrounded with high wooden walls and armed with some heavy canons. However, after a dramatic defeat by the colonial authority in 1772, the village was burned down and left behind. Nature has done its work afterwards and covered up virtually all tracks of the former community and battle fields.

Stichting Boekoe started an investigation in 1996, which included study of historical maps, reports and narratives. Well-known experts were interviewed. After some unfruitful explorations, Fort Boekoe was finally rediscovered in April 2004. This successful discovery excursion led to more. The archaeological find of bottles, pot shards and fragments of metal and Delfts Blauw confirmed that this location is correct. Also rests of agriculture activities were found. A report was always submitted at the national Surinamese museum. Findings were brought to the museum to be examined by the national archaeologist.
The area around the Boekoe - or Cassipore creek still is inaccessible but the further gathering of knowledge and information on this cultural heritage remains a strong stimulus for the foundation. In cooperation with local as well as Dutch institutions the Boekoe-site will be visited again in order to collect more data, information and (archaeological) artefacts.

OBJECTIVES
An archaeological and cultural-historical exploration.

RESULTS
* Research report and catalogue (photobook) of finds on the ‘Boekoe-site’

* Map of the former Fort Boekoe and surroundings

* Dvd, to be published by Stichting Boekoe

* Exhibition in both Suriname and the Netherlands