Little-known Guyana, the huge landmass and the only English speaking country in South America has some world-class, cultural attractions; the highest single-drop waterfall in the world, the tallest wooden building in the world, and the longest floating bridge in the world. Guyana is also known as the land of six peoples.
One of those peoples is the Amerindians - the first people of Guyana - who number 9 per cent of the 700,000 population of this vast country.
I have been visiting Guyana since my teens but returning last month gave me my first opportunity to see the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology in the capital, Georgetown. Named after an English explorer, it was founded in 1974 with the collection of Denis Williams, an outstanding Guyanese archaeologist.
Williams (1923-1998) was a painter, writer, tutor (at the London's Slade and Central School of Fine Art) - he also researched African antiquity and lectured on the continent. But it is his extensive research into the history and prehistory of the indigenous peoples of Guyana that has left the strongest legacy.
There are nine Amerindian tribes living across the ten administrative regions of Guyana. Many still live a traditional life on reserves, in the rainforest and in the savannahs. The Walter Roth Museum uses artefacts donated by researchers over the years to tell the story of the indigenous peoples' way of life.
The museum also has a library and archive and a junior archaeology programme that is inspiring children in both archaeology and anthropology. I spent time with a Wapisiana (from southern Guyana) family, now living in the city, but keeping their traditions alive.
It is right that many Amerindian names have been maintained or reintroduced. Kaie was the Patamona chief who sacrificed himself over the great falls to save his tribe from another. Teur means falls. Kaieteur at 822 feet with its sheer drop at 741 feet is twice as high as the Victoria Falls and five times higher than Niagara.
One of those peoples is the Amerindians - the first people of Guyana - who number 9 per cent of the 700,000 population of this vast country.
I have been visiting Guyana since my teens but returning last month gave me my first opportunity to see the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology in the capital, Georgetown. Named after an English explorer, it was founded in 1974 with the collection of Denis Williams, an outstanding Guyanese archaeologist.
Williams (1923-1998) was a painter, writer, tutor (at the London's Slade and Central School of Fine Art) - he also researched African antiquity and lectured on the continent. But it is his extensive research into the history and prehistory of the indigenous peoples of Guyana that has left the strongest legacy.
There are nine Amerindian tribes living across the ten administrative regions of Guyana. Many still live a traditional life on reserves, in the rainforest and in the savannahs. The Walter Roth Museum uses artefacts donated by researchers over the years to tell the story of the indigenous peoples' way of life.
The museum also has a library and archive and a junior archaeology programme that is inspiring children in both archaeology and anthropology. I spent time with a Wapisiana (from southern Guyana) family, now living in the city, but keeping their traditions alive.
It is right that many Amerindian names have been maintained or reintroduced. Kaie was the Patamona chief who sacrificed himself over the great falls to save his tribe from another. Teur means falls. Kaieteur at 822 feet with its sheer drop at 741 feet is twice as high as the Victoria Falls and five times higher than Niagara.
