Man’s best friend has always made a great island companion and archaeological studies in the Caribbean have proven conclusively that the Arawak civilization, early inhabitants of St. Martin in the period 550 BC up to Christopher Columbus’ arrival –were accompanied by dogs on their travels.

Tijon’s Caribe Baie Mascot is a replica of a ceramic Arawak Dog dating back to 550 BC that was unearthed in an archeological dig at Hope Estate near Grand Case, St. Martin. The original ceramic piece is housed at St. Martin’s Marigot Museum.

In 1996 France invited its territories to submit a proposal for a postage stamp. The St. Martin Museum submitted an illustration of the ceramic Arwark Dog.  Subsequently, 8 million stamps of the Arawak Dog were sold all over France. In St. Martin it appeared as a 1st day issue on February 10, 1996 and the Marigot Post Office sold 33,000 the first two days alone.

The Arawak Dog represents St. Martin’s history with its off-spring a popular Island companion to this day.