La Grotte des Lataniers is a natural cave in Basalt, partially buried chunk of an ancient lava tunnel, residue of the geologic birth of the second -and still active - volcano of Reunion Island : Piton de la Fournaise.

It is useful to remind that Reunion Island, despite it was probably known by the arabs in ancient times, was inhabited until mid 17th century.

Since the upper lands of the island were mostly unexplored during 17th to 19th century, there is strong evidence that slaves on the run have probably used it for shelter even if no permanent habitat seems to have ever took place in the cave, due to its remote location at high altitude with freezing temperatures.

During the second period of immigration mid 19th century the artist and landowner Mortier de Trevise illustrated a nightcamp on site, wich have sporadically been used by hikers, including at some point around 1920 a wooden roof extension and a door. 

Along the project Forget Me not, based on the collaboration with scientific team of Capeline/Afac974 Project in French foreign territory of Réunion Island, south Indian Ocean, we worked on illustrations of a patrimony site nested within the heart of UNESCO world Heritage - National Park of Réunion island.