Koenoekoe di sjon - Santa Martha

On the Werbata map (1909) there is an area called Koenoekoe di Sjon South of the road to Westpunt through Soto. There should be a ruin according to that map. A more recent map (1993) calls this area San Fernando and shows 4 large buildings and no trace of a ruin. More than enough reason for an investigation by the archaeology sleuths. So we parked our cars on the morning of Thursday July 25, 2013 opposite the doctor's office of Dr Lucasius.

Our sleuth chieftain, François, had visited him the day before to get more information about the area. Dr. Lucasius held practice in this office for 25 years. San Fernando was the name of an organisation that offered education and care for youth which didn't fit in the normal educational environment and had a slightly criminal background. For this purpose a group of buildings was set up and used as a housing for these young people. But when the funding stopped and no additional funding could be found the place was abandoned. What happened to the organisation and more importantly with these young people, is unknown to me.
About the ruin on the old map he couldn't tell us anything.

So we went up the road next to the doctor's office and soon found the entrance of San Fernando, an abandoned guard house. From there we had a view on a large building to the right that apparently acted as the main kitchen and a not completed large building to the left. When we entered this building it became clear that it was not planned to leave this place. We found unused rolls of (expensive) isolation blankets for the roof. These were left behind. This building was from a more recent date than all the others that we found so apparently an expansion was planned but never succeeded.

We used old asphalt roads to walk to the first of the four buildings and from there to the other building groups. Each building group consisted of a large L-shaped building with a sleeping area and an area with bathrooms and showers. The other leg of the L was probably used for education and as an area to spend the free time. The L-shaped building enclosed a large courtyard with a free-standing building on the other end that was mainly a roofed in patio. Each of the four building groups had its own name as could be derived from the artwork on an outside wall of each of the building groups. Apparantely they were named Warawara, Prikichi, Trupial and Bubi. These were the birds that were depicted in the artwork (see pictures underneath this report). In the immediate surroundings there were playgrounds and a nice nature. We also found several wells in the area. It looked as a pleasant area to live and spend time. A pity that such a project didn't survive.

Between our visit to the second and third building group we went looking for the ruin. There was a small hill that we climbed in search of the ruin. It took us some time before we found what we came looking for. First we found some traces in the form of a straight line of stones with some pieces of plaster laying around, not attached to the stones. We also found some larger pieces of concrete with coral. But François found the real thing. A large piece of a wall with corners on both ends. A construction so sturdy that it reminded us of a fort but that would be unlikely in this place. After some deliberation we concluded that it could have been a magasina (store house). Maybe part of the outside wall was reinforced because it was close to a slope.

After this nice and comparably easy hike we went to the restaurant Trio Penotti to celebrate Dirk's birthday.

No rights can be derived from this report.

• The 1993 map shows the four building groups in the area called San Fernando The 1993 map shows the four building groups in the area called San Fernando
• The Werbata map (1909) shows an area called Koenoekoe di Sjon with a ruin The Werbata map (1909) shows an area called Koenoekoe di Sjon with a ruin
• The doctor's office of Dr Lucasius who told us about San Fernando The doctor's office of Dr Lucasius who told us about San Fernando
• The former guard house at the entrance of San Fernando The former guard house at the entrance of San Fernando
• The kitchen building The kitchen building
• This building was never completed This building was never completed
• Nice shutter windows to let the wind in but not the sun Nice shutter windows to let the wind in but not the sun
• Eddy next to unused rolls of isolation blankets for the roof Eddy next to unused rolls of isolation blankets for the roof
• Nature took over Nature took over
• 
• The first building group, Warawara The first building group, Warawara
• The artwork on the outside wall The artwork on the outside wall
• There was a fire here There was a fire here
• Bars to prevent people from coming in or going out? Fred is outside Bars to prevent people from coming in or going out? Fred is outside
• The wet area The wet area
• Probably the sleeping area Probably the sleeping area
• Large palm tree in the park-like area next to the building Large palm tree in the park-like area next to the building
• Also other large trees here Also other large trees here
• Fred takes a picture of the first well that we found Fred takes a picture of the first well that we found
• A large well; there is still water inside A large well; there is still water inside
• A strange tree with very colorful seedpods A strange tree with very colorful seedpods
• The next building group is called Prikichi The next building group is called Prikichi
• François is taking a picture of the artwork François is taking a picture of the artwork
• Leftover play and reading material Leftover play and reading material
• The toilet could use some cleaning The toilet could use some cleaning
• "Trommelstok" had seeds with a drop-like taste "Trommelstok" had seeds with a drop-like taste
• A bird's nest in a large Bringamosa; apparently the birds are not afraid of the sting A bird's nest in a large Bringamosa; apparently the birds are not afraid of the sting
• Artifacts, a piece of plaster and part of a roof tile; looks modern Artifacts, a piece of plaster and part of a roof tile; looks modern
• Our first clue, a row of stones Our first clue, a row of stones
• Large pieces of concrete mixed with coral Large pieces of concrete mixed with coral
• Was this a floor? Was this a floor?
• This is the real thing; a corner in a standing wall This is the real thing; a corner in a standing wall
• A fort-like construction A fort-like construction
• The other corner The other corner
• And here we find older artifacts And here we find older artifacts
• Part of the floor Part of the floor
• The very sturdy wall The very sturdy wall
• Back to San Fernando, the Trupial building group Back to San Fernando, the Trupial building group
• Bats have taken over the building Bats have taken over the building
• A row of showers A row of showers
• A second well A second well
• Also with water standing inside Also with water standing inside
• A bridge over the rooi (stream) A bridge over the rooi (stream)
• Art or functional? Art or functional?
• 
• Water cellar or septic tank Water cellar or septic tank
• 
• The fourth building group, Bubi The fourth building group, Bubi
• Did everyone leave in a hurry? Did everyone leave in a hurry?
• Some documentation that we found shows that it was still operational in 1995 Some documentation that we found shows that it was still operational in 1995
• A list of things that you needed before working with a group A list of things that you needed before working with a group
• Wasps inside an electrical cabinet Wasps inside an electrical cabinet
• The entrance of the restaurant Trio Penotti The entrance of the restaurant Trio Penotti
• Our table is ready Our table is ready
•