The "Santa Maria anchor" preserved at the Haitian National Pantheon Museum (MUPANAH) belongs to the historical cultural heritage of Haiti. It is part of the Museum's permanent collection, illustrating the Colombian or Spanish period.

It is highlighted with engravings showing scenes of the arrival of the Spanish and the massacre of the natives. There are also some European weapons : breastplate, infantryman's helmet, parade dagger, Spanish sword and infantryman's sword (16th – 17th century).

The anchor comes from Christopher Columbus' caravel "Santa Maria", which ran aground on December 24, 1492 off the coast of Caracol Bay, in the north of Haiti. It was found, towards the end of the 18th century (1796), on the Fournier-Bellevue habitation, 900 toises (1,754m) from the sea and 4 feet (1,21m) deep in yield land.

It is the most precious "witness object" of the historical event marking the arrival of the Spanish in America, towards the end of the 15th century. The admiral, Christopher Columbus, took possession of "Ayiti" on behalf of the Catholic Kings of Spain. This colonization caused the virtual disappearance of the island's aborigines.

IH/ MUPANAH