The project is concerned with the archaeology, architecture and conservation of an historic islet. An extensive survey of the standing monuments, structures and other remains started in 2002. The cutting back of vegetation and clearance of blown sand is revealing hidden features, while targeted excavation (Fig. 1) is helping to resolve specific problems of chronology and identification of functions.

   Ile de la Passe (Fig. 2) guards the entrance through the coral reef into Grand Port at the south-east of Mauritius. Control of this coral islet was the key to control of the Indian Ocean from the early 18th century until 1810. The islet, pivotal in the last Napoleonic naval victory over the British, the "Battle of Grand Port" celebrated on the Arc de Triumph, boasts some of the most impressive surviving examples of early modern French military architecture in the southern hemisphere. Later British military installations are of considerable importance for the heritage of Mauritius and of interest to students of colonial history.

Dr Geoffrey Summers

Settlement Archaeology Graduate Program

Institute of Social Sciences

Middle East Technical University

Ankara TR-06531, TURKEY

Adjunct Associate Professor

Department of Anthropology

University at Buffalo, SUNY USA

e-mail:summers@metu.edu.tr

Françoise Summers

ARB Department of Architecture

Middle East Technical University

Ankara TR-06531, TURKEY

e-mail:fsummers@metu.edu.tr

Mailing Address

Department of Architecture

Middle East Technical University

Ankara TR-06531, TURKEY

Liaison Officer

NHF

Vickram Mugdon

    Owen Griffiths, La Vanille Crocodile and Tortoise Park, Mauritius.

   e-mail:crocpark@intnet.mu

    Anwar Janoo (Ph.D), Museu Nacional/ Universidade Federal Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

   e-mail:ajanoo@biologia.ufrj.br

   Team1 (19 January to 2 February): Mary Aubuchon, Bradley Braun, Vida Dedinas,

   Alexandra Nicol and George Weiss.

   Team2 (2 to 16 February): Rudy Miner, Lise Poirier, Rosanne Rosen, Mark Rosen

    and Rodney Supple.

    Yann von Arnim, Jayshree Mungur and Natalie Summers.

    Aylin Agar and Nurdan Çayirezmez.

    The participation of volunteers is always appreciated and helps in disseminating to a wider public the importance of Cultural Heritage. Among those who joined the team on site are David Morin, Charlotte Echtner, Isabelle E.Noel, Priscille E.Noel, Marie Helene D'Arifat and a group of school children from L'Ecole du Centre.
    On Wednesday February 4 we were honoured by the visit of members of the NHF Board which included the Chairman, Mr Philippe la Hausse, and the (former) Director, Mr Premlall Mahadeo. Dr Vijaya Teelock and 24 first year students from the University of Mauritius, an educational film team of three from the University of Mauritius and a team of four from the MBC visited on that same day.