Bernard Marigny's Fontainebleau Plantation: Archaeological Monitoring for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Fontainebleau State Park Debris Removal, Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana

Summary

In January of 2006, Coastal Environments, Inc. (CEI) was contracted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct archaeological monitoring of Hurricane Katrina related debris removal at Fontainebleau State Park (16ST86). This work was done between 23 January 2006 and 10 February 2006, with an additional day monitoring cleanup on 2 March 2006. A two-person and periodically a three person team from CEI conducted archaeological monitoring during the machine-aided removal of debris in culturally sensitive areas of Fontainebleau State Park, located just east of Mandeville, Louisiana. The Sensitive Debris Removal Area encompasses an approximate area of 25 acres (61.8 ha). The limits of site 16ST86 as defined at the beginning of fieldwork (13.5 ac or 33.3 ha) fall completely within the Sensitive Debris Removal Area. During the course of monitoring activities at 16ST86, 22 features were documented, two of which were previously recorded. These features include brick chain walls, chimney remains, brick piers, subsurface brick concentrations, and a possible mid- to late-nineteenth-century trash midden. From the limited data obtained during archaeological monitoring, 23 potential building localities were identified at 16ST86. These former structures are likely associated with the nineteenth-century sugar plantation and brickyard, but further research is required to more accurately determine their ages, functions, and exact dimensions. Across the three loci, a total of 1,191 artifacts were collected, mainly from 29 surface collection localities, although a few artifacts were recovered during the documentation of features. The majority of this assemblage dates to the early to mid-nineteenth century, although a few artifacts appear to date to the late eighteenth and late nineteenth century.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Coastal Environments, Inc. (CEI) Archaeological Reports

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Principal Investigator(s): David B. Kelley

Sponsor(s): U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Prepared By(s): Coastal Environments, Inc.

Submitted To(s): US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District

Record Identifiers

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District(s): DACW29-01-D-0016; Delivery Order No. 0009

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