Historical Archaeology of French America

The colonial endeavors of France in the New World created a widely dispersed territory, encompassing the regions between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes, and lands between the Hudson Bay and Gulf of Mexico. This session aims to explore the different realities experienced by French colonists and French-descended communities across the North American continent. Archaeological evidence reveals an interpretation of Old World traditions in New World contexts, during and after the colonial regime and through interaction with Native Americans, Africans, and other Europeans. These papers highlight the complexity and diversity of French America as only historical archaeology can do. In addition, they point the way toward important questions that remain, questions that should be counted among future research into France in the New World.