Colonial Mobile Archaeology: French, British, Spanish, and Early American Colonization on the North-Central Gulf of Mexico Coast

Application of five geophysical survey methods - earth conductivity, magnetometry, thermal imaging, electrical resistivity and ground penetrating radar - in the search for archaeological remains of Fort Louis, original capitol of the French colony of Louisiane (1702-1711), has yielded divergent yet complementary results. This project included test excavations to ground truth the geophysical results and to evaluate the relative effectiveness of these five geophysical survey technologies in...

The University of South Alabama's Center for Archaeological Studies conducted archaeological excavations at the proposed site of the Gulf Coast Exploreum and Science Center in downtown Mobile, Alabama. Field work was directed by Bonnie Gums and George Shorter in the two areas explored in depth. Among the project finds was an earthfast Spanish-colonial building's foundations and associated discarded possessions of the Espejo family, the first archaeological glimpse of that aspects of Mobile's...

Following the discovery by James C. "Buddy" Parnell of archaeological features at the French colonial site of Old Mobile, 1MB94, in the spring of 1989, the University of South Alabama began excavations and a systematic shovel testing survey of the site. With grant support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Alabama Historical Commission, the State of Alabama, and numerous private sponsors, the archaeological research team was able to locate, by 1991, the remains of at least 26...

The LaPointe-Krebs House or "Old Spanish Fort" (archaeological site 22JA526) in Pascagoula, Mississippi, is evidently the oldest standing structure in that state. Archaeological test excavations in and adjacent to the house in 1979, 1992, and 1994, 1995, and 2010 have revealed a complex sequence of colonial-period occupation and building on that site. Apart from some sporadic prehistoric occupation during the Middle Woodland period about two millennia ago, the major occupation occurred between...

This report offers a technological comparison of Apalachee-style and Colono Ware potteries from French colonial Old Mobile (1702-1711), in modern-day southwest Alabama, and the Spanish colonial site of Mission San Luis de Talimali (1656-1704), in modern-day Tallahassee, Florida. Ann Cordell's analysis characterizes the Apalachee pottery assemblages from both sites, and provides comparative information on contemporaneous pottery wares produced by other native peoples in contact with French...

Southwestern Alabama's colonial history is represented by the sites of native settlements and colonial forts, villages, and river plantations that spanned the French (1699-1763), British (1763-1780) and Spanish (1780-1813) periods. In the eighteenth century, over 60 plantations were established along the major waterways around Mobile, but fewer than ten have been identified as archaeological sites, and excavation has occured at only four. Unfortunately, many of the historic sites around Mobile...

Archaeological excavations since 1989 have uncovered buried evidence of the earliest French colonial settlements on the northern Gulf coast. Patient scientific study is revealing the original townsite of Mobile, first capital of the Louisiane colony, and remnants of the colony's port on Dauphin Island. This is the story of archaeologists piecing together a fascinating but little-known chapter of America's early history.

Local tradition has long associated the area of Twenty-seven Mile Bluff on the Mobile River with the early French colonial settlement of Old Mobile. But archaeological research on this important historical site is quite recent. A series of newsletters was distributed between 1989 to 1998 to convey to the public the results of archaeological research at Old Mobile by the University of South Alabama.

Phase II archaeological testing was conducted on a portion of 1MB161, the Dog River site, for a proposed fish camp on the south shore of Dog River, Mobile County, Alabama. Excavations uncovered several small colonial building remains, including a pieux-en-terre style French colonial building that may have housed slaves working on the Rochon plantation.

When the French began colonizing the Mobile Bay area early in 1702, one of the first places they explored was a small estuary on the western shore, Riviere aux Chiens or Dog River. A patch of ground near the river's mouth, about twenty feet higher than the adjacent expansive marshes, attracted their attention. There, on the south bank. the expedition's leader, Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, had his men construct a warehouse as a way station for the crews of small sailing craft that would ferry...

A geophysical survey of a portion of the Old Mobile site (1MB94) was conducted on December 13-16, 2004, by the University of Mississippi's Center for Archaeological Research under contract with the University of South Alabama's Center for Archaeological Studies. The specific goal of the survey was to delineate features associated with Fort Louis de la Mobile, which stood on or near this site from 1702 to 1711. Survey techniques included electrical resistance and ground penetrating radar. Work...

Artifact photos from Structure 1 at Old Mobile (1MB94). A sampling of European and Indian artifacts found at Structure 1 at the Old Mobile site, including porcelain, San Luis polychrome, stoneware, and olive jar fragments.

A sampling of European and Indian artifacts found at Structure 3 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94), including coins, buckles, buttons, and pipes, as well as a variety of different ceramic types.

A sampling of European and Indian artifacts found at Structure 14 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94), including beads, a bar shot, a sword guard, a scabbard clip, coins, faience, and porcelain.

Artifact photos from the Augustin Rochon Plantation site (1BA337).

Excavation photo from the Indian House site (1MB147) near Old Mobile (1MB94).

Excavation photos from Fort Louis at the Old Mobile site (1MB94).

Excavation photos from Structure 01 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94).

A selection of photos from the excavations at Structure 02 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94).

Excavation photos from structure 03 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94).

Excavation photos of Structure 05 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94).

Excavation photos from Structure 14 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94) showing students and staff excavating the floor of the structure. Most of these photos date to the 1992 excavation.

Excavation photos of Structure 30 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94) showing students and staff troweling, excavating wall trench features, and excavating a clay/refuse pit.

Excavation photos of Structure 31 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94) showing wall trench stains and a large daub pit and wall trenches being excavated.

Excavation photos from the Augustin Rochon Plantation site (1BA337).

A collection of site photos showing excavations at the Dog River Plantation (1MB161). Also included is a color photo of glass beads found at the site.

A collection of excavation photos from the Exploreum site (1MB189).

Excavation photos from Structure 32 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94).

A collection of photos from the La Pointe-Krebs House site from the 2010 excavations, plus one sherd with embedded glass beads.

Artifact photos from the Port Dauphin Village site (1MB221).

Field excavation photos from the Port Dauphin Village site.

A sample of some of the Native American pottery vessels identified from the Structure 03 assemblage at the Old Mobile site (1MB94). Many of the illustrated types can be attributed to Apalachee, Mobilian, Tomeh, and Chato potters.

Site overview photos from the Old Mobile site (1MB94) and a map.

Field Specimen Catalog for Fort Louis, Old Mobile Site (1MB94).

Field Specimen Catalog for the Port Dauphin Village Site (1MB221).

Field Specimen Catalog for Structure 1, Old Mobile Site (1MB94).

Field Specimen Catalog for Structure 2, Old Mobile (1MB94).

Field Specimen Catalog for Old Mobile Structure 3, (1MB94).

Field Specimen Catalog for Old Mobile Structure 4, (1MB94).

Field Specimen Catalog for Structure 5, Old Mobile Site (1MB94).

Field Specimen Catalog for Structure 14, Old Mobile Site (1MB94).

Field Specimen Catalog for Structure 30, Old Mobile Site (1MB94).

Field Specimen Catalog for Structure 31, Old Mobile Site (1MB94).

Field Specimen Catalog for Structure 32, Old Mobile (1MB94).

Field Specimen Catalog for the Dog River Plantation (1MB161), Mobile County, Alabama.

Glass beads recovered from Structure 01 at the Old Mobile Site (1MB94).

Glass beads recovered from Structure 02 at the Old Mobile Site (1MB94).

Glass beads recovered from the Augustin Rochon Plantation (1BA337).

Glass trade beads recovered from the Dog River Plantation (1MB161) site.

A collection of glass beads recovered from the Indian House site (1MB147) near the Old Mobile site (1MB94).

Glass beads recovered from the Port Dauphin site (1MB221).

Field Specimen catalog for the Indian House site (1MB147) near Old Mobile (1MB94)

Southwestern Alabama's colonial history is represented by the sites of settlements, forts, villages, and river plantations that spanned the French (1699-1763), British (1763-1780) and Spanish (1780-1813) periods. In the eighteenth century, over 60 plantations were established along the major waterways around Mobile, but fewer than ten have been identified as archaeological sites, and excavation has occured at only four. Unfortunately, many of the historic sites around Mobile Bay now lie beneath...

Archaeology at the Dog River site has uncovered a series of plantations dating from the mid-1720s to 1848. Originally the home of the Charles Rochon family, the site was successively occupied by Charles' son Pierre and his family and by families related to the Rochons by marriage -- the Goudeaus and Demouys -- then finally by the Montgomery and Hollinger families during the American period, 1830-1848. HIstorical and archaeolgical evidence also indicates substantial occupations by the Chato...

In 1996 the University of South Alabama's Center for Archaeological Studies conducted archaeological excavations at the proposed site of the Gulf Coast Exploreum and Science Center in downtown Mobile, Alabama. Bonnie Gums and George Shorter directed field work in two areas explored in depth. Among several important finds was the remains of an earthfast Spanish-colonial building's foundations and associated discarded possessions of the Espejo family, our first archaeological glimpse of that...

The LaPointe-Krebs House or "Old Spanish Fort" (archaeological site 22JA526) in Pascagoula, Mississippi, is evidently the oldest standing structure in that state. Archaeological test excavations in and adjacent to the house in 1979, 1992, and 1994, 1995, and 2010 have revealed a complex sequence of colonial-period occupation and building on that site. Apart from some sporadic prehistoric occupation during the Middle Woodland period about two millennia ago, the major occupation occurred between...

In 1994-1996 the University of South Alabama's Center for Archaeological Studies excavated the site of an Indian House (1MB147) near the Old Mobile Site (1MB94). The two sites were contemporaneous, with occupations between 1702 and 1711. Old Mobile was the French capital of the colony of Louisiane. Site 1MB147, known as the Indian House, was a domestic dwelling occupied by Native Americans, perhaps Mobilians, situated immediately across a swamp that delimited the western extent of Old Mobile....

After an intensive remote sensing effort in 2005 failed to identify remains of Fort Louis at the Old Mobile site (1MB94), a large pit feature associated with one of the fort's bastions was found in that search area by hand excavation. This feature and adjacent units were excavated in 2007-2010.

This section provides an overview of archaeological research on the site of Old Mobile (1MB94), French colonial capital of La Louisiane from 1702 to 1711. While the general location of Twenty-seven Mile Bluff on the Mobile River, in modern-day southwestern Alabama, has always been known as the original French colonial townsite, archaeological research only began there in earnest in 1989 when James C. "Buddy" Parnell, an employee of Courtaulds Fibers Inc. recognized several well-preserved earthen...

Structure 1 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94) was first noted for its raised earthen floor. Several similar features were visible in the forested, unplowed, western half of the townsite. Complete excavation in 1989 revealed the building to have been built using poteaux-sur-sole, or post on sill, construction. This building had a large central room with three joists supporting a wooden floor. On each end was a smaller room, one of which shared a double-hearth chimney with the central room. The long...

Structure 2 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94) was first identified from systematic shovel testing that recovered blacksmithing slag from a concentrated area at the western edge of the townsite, adjacent to a swamp. Extensive excavations in 1990 uncovered a blacksmith's work area with forge and associated shelter, surrounded by a maze of fence footing trenches. Palisade-style fences are commonly associated with French colonial structures, but these fences were built and rebuilt frequently during the...

Structure 3 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94), entirely excavated in 1991-1992, was first noticed as an earthen floor in the woods along the western edge of the townsite, an unplowed portion of the site. This two-room structure was built initially in the poteaux-sur-sole style, but decaying sills led to repair in places with short sections of pieux-en-terre wall foundation trenches. An addition on the northeast side of the building also employed pieux-en-terre wall trenches, forming two open bays,...

Structure 4 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94) was first noticed as a preserved earthen floor in the woods in the western, unplowed portion of the townsite. A test excavation in 1991-1992 encountered a modern logging road disturbance immediately east of the structure floor. Excavation of the building site has continued in 2013. The structure was built in the poteaux-en-terre style. There is evidence of an interior brick hearth.

Structure 5 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94) was first noticed as an eroded earthen floor in the unplowed western portion of the site, immediately south of Structure 1. Completely excavated in 1991, the long axis of the structure was oriented northeast-southwest, aligned with the town's street grid, as indicated on the two historic maps of Old Mobile. A shallow dirt pit, probably the source of earth for the floor, located immediately south of the structure, was full of midden. On the southwest...

Structure 14 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94) was first noticed as an earthen floor partially preserved in the unplowed center of the townsite, in an area that is intermittently flooded by heavy rains. Excavation of this structure has consequently been limited to dry spells in 1992, 1995 and 1998-2003. The long axis of the building was oriented northwest-southeast, aligned with the street grid of the town, as depicted on the two historic maps of Old Mobile. Most of the south half of the structure...

Excavation of Structure 30 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94) occurred between 1992 and 1996, with field school student assistance. This two-room building was constructed in the pieux-en-terre style with subsurface wall and fence trenches preserved below plowzone. Relative artifact quantities in the trench features indicate a construction sequence, with the building constructed first, followed some time afterward by erection of a palisade-type fence enclosing the building. The associated artifact...

Structure 31 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94) was excavated from 1996 to 2002. This one-room building, constructed in the pieux-en-terre style, had subsurface wall trenches preserved below plowzone. A doorway was visible in the middle of the southwest wall. An additional wall trench extension off the northeast wall may indicate the location of a bread oven platform and hearth. A large pit dug for building material adjacent to the building was found filled with refuse, including four iron...

Structure 32 at the Old Mobile site (1MB94) was excavated intermittently between 1996 and 2003, with the entire building plan finally exposed and excavated in 2007. This was a very long pieux-en-terre building, with subsurface wall trenches preserved below plowzone. Built in two nearly identical stages, the final stage of occupation formed a duplex, with an additional wall trench off the southeast wall that probably served as hearth and bread oven platform. The first construction phase consisted...

Port Dauphin, on Dauphin Island, served throughout the early years of French colonial settlement on the Gulf coast as a support facility to the main settlements upriver, the town sites of Mobile -- first at Old Mobile, at Twenty-seven Mile Bluff on the Mobile River from 1702 to 1711, and then at the city's modern location at the head of Mobile Bay and the mouth of the Mobile River. The historian Antoine Simon Le Page du Pratz referred to Mobile as the birthplace of the French colony of Louisiane...

A high-resolution 3D scan of a large British lead seal from the Port Dauphin Village site (1MB221) produced by Graph Synergie of Quebec and Montreal for the University of South Alabama Center for Archaeological Studies. These files can be viewed with Blender (http://www.blender.org) or GLC Player (http://www.glc-player.net). This lead seal was originally gilt.