The Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal

Brief synthesis The town of Port Royal is situated on a spit of land (Palisadoes) at the mouth of Kingston Harbour in south-eastern Jamaica. In 1692, a severe earthquake devastated the town and submerged a large portion of it under water and sand. Today, the vestiges of the terrestrial and underwater elements of Port Royal are exceptional illustrations of an English urban settlement of the 17th century. Its well-protected deep-water port allowed the town to quickly become one of the wealthiest and most significant port cities of the British Empire, and its most important regional and transatlantic trade hub in the Americas for goods – and for enslaved Africans. Surviving vestiges include the remains of six forts that guarded the town, some of which are now underwater, and the archaeological evidence of the ensemble of residential, religious, and administrative buildings of the 17th-century town. Criterion (iv): The Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal is an exceptional illustration of an early English colonial settlement during the period of European expansion and rivalry, which is a significant stage in the history of the Americas. With its deep natural harbour and strategic location in the centre of the Spanish Main, Port Royal developed in just thirty-seven years from a colonial frontier settlement to a pivotal 17th-century port town, documented as the most important English settlement in the Western Hemisphere. The global network of trade that converged here is reflected in the rich volume of recovered artefacts from as far away as Asia and Europe. Criterion (vi): The Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal exemplifies England’s decisive role in the trafficking of enslaved Africans to the Americas. The fortifications and infrastructure are tangible evidence of the contribution of enslaved Africans to the rise, growth, and sustainability of Port Royal, as well as to the transfer of knowledge and skills. The 1692 earthquake caused the deaths of many people, making the property a grave site not only for the merchants and the wealthy, but also for the poor and enslaved. Integrity The integrity of the property is based on the terrestrial and underwater evidence of the 17th-century town of Port Royal. The archaeological ensemble contains all the attributes necessary to convey the Outstanding Universal Value, including the entire town encircled by the six fortifications present at the time of the devastating earthquake in 1692, and its 17th-century urban plan. Although there are only a few standing structures from pre-earthquake Port Royal remaining today, due to numerous natural and anthropogenic disasters, new buildings have followed the intent and alignment of the 17th-century layout of the town, preserving the foundations of pre-1692 Port Royal. The underwater sections of the town are exceptionally well preserved under layers of sediments. Authenticity The property is in its original maritime location, and though its setting has evolved, it remains evocative of its past vocations. The forms, designs, materials, and substances of its urban plan, as well as the terrestrial and underwater archaeological evidence of its 17th-century past remain largely intact and legible. Fort Charles, for example, has undergone several restorations over time, but its materials and design can be considered largely intact. Underwater features are completely unchanged and have been preserved in situ; their authenticity is unquestionable. In terms of uses and functions, the property continues to play an important role in the maritime activities of the Kingston and Port Royal harbours. Protection and management requirements The property is protected under two national legislations: the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) Act of 1985, and the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act of 1991. Under the 1985 JNHT Act, the area was designated as Protected National Heritage in 1999, while Palisadoes and Port Royal were designated as Protected Area in 1998, under the 1991 NRCA Act. The latter is enforced through the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). The property and its buffer zone are also protected under the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2001) since 9 August 2011. With these national and international legislations, a collaborative approach is employed by the government agencies with legal jurisdictions in the protected area, the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). These agencies co-manage the protected area to ensure the effective management and monitoring of the property. The Port Royal & the Palisadoes Management Plan 2022-2027 developed by the JNHT, as well as the Final Draft Palisadoes-Port Royal Protected Area Management Plan 2021-2031 prepared by the NEPA, collectively provide the necessary conservation, management and monitoring of the protected area. Local stakeholders and duty bearers are involved in the management and decision-making processes.