BNE deploys emergency mission to Grande-Rivière du Nord after discovery of antique weapons
The National Bureau of Ethnology is documenting a collection of old arms unearthed in a church courtyard, according to Le Nouvelliste.
An emergency mission from Haiti's National Bureau of Ethnology (Bureau national d'ethnologie, BNE) has been deployed to the commune of Grande-Rivière du Nord following the discovery of a collection of antique weapons, according to Le Nouvelliste. The mission is led by the institution's director general, Erol Josué, and archaeologist Dr. Joseph Sony Jean. According to the outlet, the weapons were uncovered during excavations in the courtyard of the Baptiste Conservatrice church. The BNE team proceeded to verify and document the artifacts and met with local authorities to define measures to protect the heritage items, the report said. Scientific research is continuing to establish the origin and historical significance of the collection, the BNE indicated in a note cited by Le Nouvelliste. No timeline for the completion of the analysis was provided in the report. The discovery adds to ongoing efforts to safeguard Haiti's cultural and historical patrimony. Le Nouvelliste did not specify the number of weapons recovered or their estimated age.