A few finds picked up from the surface were added to the collection of artefacts from Ile de la Passe but are of less interest than those recovered from excavation.
   Mr Van G. Lanza has most graciously handed over to the National History Museum in Mahébourg eleven items that he himself has picked up at Ile de la Passe in past years. The precise location of each of these finds was assiduously recorded at the time of discovery, with both notes and GPS (Global Positioning System) positions. We ourselves have catalogued these objects and assimilated them into the Ile de la Passe collection of finds. One of these objects, a cap badge of the 56th West Essex Regiment of Foot is of particular interest. It is, however, in several fragments so that it requires expert cleaning and restoration.
   The two anchors located during the underwater reconnaissance add to the record of items that lay on the seabed.

   In 2004 trench TR11 was laid out to investigate the coral and lime mortar wall of Structure 33, which was visible in the eroded bank on the south-eastern side of WW II Structure 23 and assumed to date from the French period. There was interest both in the possible identification of the structure with elements shown on contemporaneous maps as well as in establishing the stratigraphic relationship of the visible wall with Walls F4 and G of the North-Western Battery (Fig. 9).
   In the first 2005 session of fieldwork the eastern portion of the section was extended to the north-east (Fig. 18). There were two objectives; firstly to locate what was expected to be the north-east wall of the structure and, secondly, to explore further the earlier levels which had great potential interest. Neither of these aims was achieved. No trace of additional walling was found and, because the top of the bedrock rose up, the pre-wall surfaces were found to peter out immediately to the east of the 2004 trench edge. In a future campaign trench TR11 could be extended south-westwards to establish the stratigraphic link between Structure 33 and Wall G of the North-West Battery.
   Many of the animal bones from trench TR11, the majority of which would appear on superficial examination to be cattle, but also some pig, have been sawn for marrow extraction (Fig. 19). The exact date of the levels from which these sawn bones were recovered is not yet certain. The ceramics and glass are perhaps indicative of a date in the early 19th century rather than the 18th, in which case the wall of Structure 33 would belong to the British rather than the French period. Such a result would be surprising and, given the characteristic butchering practices just mentioned, of some chronological and cultural importance.

   Trenches TR15 and TR16 (Figs1, 9 and 20) were both located in the rock-cut ditch-like feature, the West Ditch, located on the western edge of the islet. This ditch is aligned approximately north-south, extending from close to the rear of the Store House. The linear nature of the ditch together with its position does make it very likely that it formed part of a defensive scheme early on in the French period, and that it was abandoned unfinished.
   On the surface of the fill in the central portion of this rock-cut ditch a concentration of large animal bones, some of which appeared to be partially mineralised, suggested that there might be some undisturbed deposits at this location. Excavation was restricted to two small trenches, TR15 and TR16 (Fig. 9), with the twin objectives of examining the base of the ditch so as to ascertain its profile, and the recovery of objects and other material of potentially intrinsic value. Excavation was begun in January 2005. The trenches were backfilled at the end of the campaign and in August trench TR16 was reopened and completed.
   All soil was carefully sieved through fine mesh to ensure total recovery of the small bones (fish, bird, rodent and reptile) without undue breakage of fragile pieces. In January the contents were dry sieved while in August it was decided to wet sieve in adjacent pools of seawater in order to lessen the chances of damage to delicate bones. Since waves frequently break over the edge of the islet at this point, sometimes leaving standing seawater in the central portion of the ditch, no harm was done by sieving in salt water. There is a strong possibility of later intrusion as a result of burrowing animals (e.g. crabs and rodents), human activity (e.g. the presence of a Second World War electricity cable from the generators in the Storehouse to the Searchlight Building, and the activities of fishermen and wave action during storms and cyclones. A combination of a very strong southerly wind and high tides in August caused seawater to pour into the ditch so that we were able to observe how the fill was churned up by natural forces.
   Perhaps as much as 30% of the fill was, however, made up of animal bone and marine shell (Fig. 22). None of the bone was articulated. Species represented include horse (teeth), pig (tusk), cattle and sheep/goat. There is also much fish and some bird bone. These shells and bone clearly represent a deposit of food waste. Mixed together with the food refuse were pieces of waste from a bone-working industry that was producing buttons, brushes, gaming pieces and, doubtless, other items (Fig. 23). A number of generally small fragments of porcelain, pottery and pieces of green and black bottle glass were also found. The date of the finds would seem to be early 19th century, i.e. from the British period. The strongest evidence for this suggested dating is a serial of military uniform buttons, mostly made of pewter by English manufactures. These can be identified and provide evidence of the particular regiment represented.
   The animal bones and the pieces of worked bone waste do not (on a first superficial inspection) appear to have been greatly damaged. This observation, if confirmed, would be evidence that we are here dealing with a primary deposit. In this case we might have a small part of the refuse from the garrison. The size of the bones as well as the angle at which some of the larger pieces are found to be laying are probably indications that the deposit accumulated quickly. In any event, there is no trace of layering and trampling as might be expected if the accumulation had been a slow one.
   The location of trench TR16, more or less in the centre of the ditch, is at the shortest distance of the footpath leading from the Cook House over Wall E at the south-east corner of the Store House to the sea. Whether the deposit represents the secondary deposition of a dump, or a first-time refuse pile is of little significance for the great value of the bones in assessing the diet of the garrison since it is clear that they ultimately derived from the kitchen.

   Excavation of an area between the Powder House and the Hot Shot Furnace was conducted primarily to establish whether remains of a structure, as shown on one of the early maps (Fig. 24), could be found. Trench TR17 (Fig. 25) was expanded to a final size of 10.00 by 2.00 metres and bedrock has been reached across the entire excavated area. No traces of cuttings into the bedrock that might have been associated with an early timber frame barrack building nor evidence for the existence of other structures in this location were noted. At the east end a roughly circular feature represents an area where lime mortar and crushed brick were once mixed.
   Trench TR18 (Figs 26 and 27), was laid out over what should be the southern end of the timber-framed building which trench TR17 failed to locate. If traces of the structure are extant at the southern end of this trench they are very ephemeral. It would seem, however, that if the building was in fact erected, rather than merely proposed, no beams or posts had been cut into the bedrock. At the south-eastern end there were traces of a lime mortar surface. This may have been no more than the remains of mixing lime mortar because the level mortar covered area was irregular and restricted. In any event, no traces of any built structure were recognised. The mortar surface was not removed.

   The majority, and by far the most interesting, of the graffiti on Ile de la Passe appear to have been cut by British troops who were stationed on the mainland of Mauritius from the 1840s until perhaps as late as the 1870s (Fig. 28). These graffiti record names, numbers, ranks, regiments and dates. Very occasionally there are representations of regimental emblems such as crossed flags, crowns and a single Irish harp. The carving exhibits various styles with differing degrees of competence. Stencils were sometimes used, as evidenced both by the form of the lettering and numbers as well as by the occasional reversal of individual characters. This new observation carries the implication that soldiers visiting the islet came with the explicit intention of carving their names, bringing with them stencils for that purpose. A number of individuals have recorded their presence more than once, presumably indicating visits on different occasions. Some of the most elaborate and competent of the graffiti from this period were carved on the inside of the barrel-vaulted roof of the Powder House in positions that could not be reached from the floor.
   In the first part of the 200 campaign a small number of graffiti cut on walls of the Powder House and elsewhere during the Second World War, indicated by WW II or the date, (Fig. 29) were spotted. These are less informative than the 19th century graffiti, although one poignantly says CHRISTMAS.
            The term World War Two had actually been used as early as 1938:
             www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/world_war_4-name.htm -
   No graffiti dating to the French period, i.e. before 1810, have been recognised, nor do there appear to be any British graffiti that belong to the period after 1810 when Ile de la Passe was garrisoned. While it is possible that some of the names do belong to this latter period, but cannot be recognised because they do not include dates or regimental information, it can easily be imagined that officers would not have taken kindly to troops defacing garrison buildings. This same attitude would also, perhaps, explain why there are no (recognisable) carvings dating to the period when the Observation Tower and associated structures were being constructed, even though the walls and surfaces of existing buildings were by then already scarred.

   A reconnaissance was made of the structures on the hill above the French Battery. Here it was discovered that much of the WW II camp together with associated defensive structures are reasonably well preserved although roofs other than concrete ones are all gone (Figs 30 and 31). An interesting surprise was the recognition that some structures were originally constructed in earlier periods, perhaps during the First World War and possibly at other times. It may also turn out that one or more of these structures were converted from civilian use.
   Measurements were taken at the French Battery (Figs 32 and 33) to produce a detailed lan of the standing defences. It was noted that nothing remains of the structures on the south side of the battery depicted on the 1759 map beyond the end stubs of two walls. These structures, presumably destroyed by Willoughby in 1810, have long since washed away. No trace of later, British, proposed rebuilding of the battery shown on a plan of 1812 could be found. It seems likely that little if anything was actually built, but further research is required.