Archaeology of Pierre Metoyer’s 18th-Century French Colonial Plantation Site, Natchitoches, Louisiana

Summary

This paper discusses recent findings and interpretations at the 18th century plantation of Pierre Metoyer, a prominent resident of French colonial Louisiana. Metoyer is historically best known for his relationship with Marie-Thérèse Coincoin, a freed slave of African descent living in the Natchitoches area in the 1700s and one of the most important founding ancestors of the regional Creole community. Since 2011 the National Park Service’s Southeast Archeological Center (SEAC) has been assisting the Cane River National Heritage Area by documenting threatened resources, such as the Metoyer property, that are within the Cane River National Heritage Area and part of northwest Louisiana’s heritage of Creole genesis. Survey work, archival research, and surface collection identified the Metoyer site. Subsequent geophysical survey and targeted excavations have revealed significant preserved features and material culture spanning the Metoyer occupation to contemporary periods.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions) 2016   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2016

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 842