A manor house, occupied until the 1950s, is being overtaken by
the forest. It seems surprising to find the remains of an elegant
home in such a rugged spot.
A mysterious series of petroglyphs is carved into the rock wall near
a small natural pool fed by a waterfall (at least in the rainy season).
The site is puzzling because it is so far away from other ruins on the
island. Archeologists have developed many theories--some
quite exotic--about the origins of the carvings, but current work by National
Park Service archeologists suggests that the carvings were made by the
Taino people who had an extensive civilization in the islands prior to
Columbus' arrival. On an island where natural waters are scarce,
the pool at the site attracts bats in the evening, and bats were thought
to be departed spirits of the ancestors--thus the site may have had spiritual
meaning as a place where the ancestors gathered. The carvings reflect
in the pool and enhance the mystery.
