Local historian Angelo Bissessarsingh is calling on the National Trust to take charge of a midden in Valsayn where three Amerindian artefacts dating to 2000 BC, were discovered by a land owner on Sunday.
The animal-shaped figurines were posted on Facebook by Melissa Jagroop-Topha.
Bissessarsingh said it appeared the artifacts were from the Parico tribe, from which Piarco got its name.
"To find it that far under a swamp is unusual. I was informed that the three pieces of pottery were found three feet in a piece of lagoon in St Augustine south of UWI. It is marshlands and it would be unusual for them to settle there. They might have lived there for a short time," Bissessarsingh said.
Classifying the figurines as Saladoid pottery because of the design and shape, Bissessarsingh said the Saladoids lived near streams, rivers and coastlines.
"To find three pieces of pottery in one spot is pretty strange especially since they are of one type. Bissessarsingh called on the University of the West Indies Archaeology Unit led by Dr Basil Reid and the National Trust led by Michelle Solestine to investigate the findings.
"Officials at UWI should look into it to see if any other pottery can be found. Too often these sites get looked over and then we hear the unfortunate news that the artefacts have started disappearing. Saladoid pottery and usually starts around 2,000 BC and ends 13,000 BC," Bissessarsingh said.
Asked whether the National Trust had the authority to take charge of the site, Bissessarsingh said the Trust was the curator of T&T's national heritage but despite the passage of legislation, there was no enforcement body to execute the existing laws.
Praising Jagroop-Topha for dealing sensibly with the matter, Bissessarsingh said the three artefacts should be carefully safe-guarded and lodged at the Archaeology Centre of UWI.
Senior lecturer in history, at the College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of T&T, Dr Radica Mahase also called on the public to respect the heritage site.
"I think once there are any sites where historical artefacts are found, some measures must be put in place to preserve them until work could be done on the site. The Archaeology Unit at UWI led by Dr Reid and the National Trust of T&T should work together. Dr Reid, who is the expert on these matters can give us an idea of what time period the artifacts are found and advise further," Dr Mahase said.
Emails sent to Solestine and Reid were not answered.