Conference - The forgotten slaves of Tromelin

Sébastien Berthaut-Clarac, underwater archaeologist, member of the Groupe de recherche en archéologie navale and doctoral student at the Centre de recherche sur les sociétés et les environnements en mutation, has been excavating the sunken past for over 20 years.

Friday 17 April 2026 between 5.30 pm and 9 pm.

In particular, he took part in underwater and land excavations on the island of Tromelin.

Les naufragés de l'île Tromelin or the forgotten slaves of Tromelin

This lecture evokes a tragic episode in the slave trade: the abandonment in 1761 of 60 captives on the desert islet of Tromelin (Indian Ocean). Forgotten, it was only 15 years later that the chevalier Tromelin recovered seven women and an eight-month-old baby.

In 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013, Max Guérout (Gran) and Thomas Romon (Inrap) carried out underwater and onshore archaeological research to shed light on the survival conditions of these forgotten people. This work has given rise to a traveling exhibition in France.