e2gomprehensive2usurfe2snvestigtion2t2wgnoli2lnttion e2gomprehensive usurfe2snvestigtion t wgnoli lnttion 222ueelD2willerD2 nd2iem fennie2gF2ueel with2ontriutions2y nn ghristin2iF2willer 2222222222222222222 wr2eF2iemnn outhest2erheologil2genter llhsseeD2plorid IWWW IWWW e2gomprehensive2usurfe2snvestigtion2t2wgnoli2lnttion e2gomprehensive usurfe2snvestigtion t wgnoli lnttion 222ueelD2willerD2 nd2iem fennie2gF2ueel with2ontriutions2y nn ghristin2iF2willer 2222222222222222222 wr2eF2iemnn outhest2erheologil2genter llhsseeD2plorid IWWW IWWW A Comprehensive Subsurface Investigation at Magnolia Plantation 16NA295 Cane River Creole National Historical Park Natchitoches, Louisiana SEAC Accession 1224 W Bennie C. Keel, Ph.D., SOPA with contributions by Christina E. Miller and Marc A. Tiemann Southeast Archeological Center National Park Service Tallahassee, Florida 1999 Southeast Archeological Center The Southeast Archeological Center (SEAC) is a support operation of the National Park Service’s Southeast Region. In assisting parks with their cultural resource management needs, SEAC facilitates long-term protection of archeological resources and compiles and utilizes the archeological information obtained from these resources. In addition to annually generating numerous archeological reports, as mandated by federal law and park operations, SEAC is the repository for over six million artifacts that make up the Southeast Region’s research collections and contribute to its cultural database. SEAC is staffed by professional NPS archeologists and regularly employs archeology students from Florida State Uni- versity and other anthropology programs throughout the Southeast. For more information contact: Southeast Archeological Center 2035 East Paul Dirac Drive, Box 7 Johnson Building, Suite 120 Tallahassee, Florida 32310 Telephone: 850-580-3011 Fax: 850-580-2884 http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/seac.htm Contents FIGURES......................................................................................................................................................5 TABLES .......................................................................................................................................................7 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................8 MANAGEMENT SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................10 CHAPTERS 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 11 Planning..................................................................................................................................... 11 Project Goals ............................................................................................................................. 13 Project Implementation ............................................................................................................. 14 2. CONTEXT....................................................................................................................................... 15 The Natural Environment.......................................................................................................... 15 Climate................................................................................................................................ 15 Geology ............................................................................................................................... 15 Soils .................................................................................................................................... 15 Hydrology ........................................................................................................................... 17 Flora and Fauna ................................................................................................................. 17 History of Magnolia Plantation ................................................................................................. 18 Early LeComte Family History .......................................................................................... 18 Founding of Magnolia Plantation ...................................................................................... 18 Daily Life ............................................................................................................................ 19 Aftermath of the Civil War .................................................................................................. 20 The Hertzogs and Magnolia ............................................................................................... 21 Archeology ................................................................................................................................ 22 Historic Plats Versus Archeological Reality ............................................................................. 23 3. FIELDWORK .................................................................................................................................. 29 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 29 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 31 Productivity......................................................................................................................... 31 Stratigraphy ........................................................................................................................ 31 3 A Comprehensive Subsurface Investigation at Magnolia Plantation Features ..................................................................................................................................... 35 In Situ Structures ................................................................................................................ 35 Construction Rubble ........................................................................................................... 36 Midden ................................................................................................................................ 36 Soil Stains ........................................................................................................................... 36 Gravel ................................................................................................................................. 36 4. ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................................................... 41 Magnolia Plantation Collection ................................................................................................ 41 Unclassified Group ............................................................................................................. 42 Native American Group ...................................................................................................... 43 Agricultural Group ............................................................................................................. 43 Structures Group ................................................................................................................. 45 Food Group ........................................................................................................................ 48 Clothing Group ................................................................................................................... 54 Personal Group .................................................................................................................. 55 Fauna and Flora Group ..................................................................................................... 57 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 58 5. ARTIFACT PATTERNING ............................................................................................................. 59 Analysis Group Distributions....................................................................................................59 Structure Group .................................................................................................................. 60 Agricultural Group ............................................................................................................. 62 Food Group ........................................................................................................................ 64 Clothing Group ................................................................................................................... 64 Personal Group .................................................................................................................. 64 Chronological Considerations ................................................................................................... 64 Ceramics ............................................................................................................................. 68 Nails .................................................................................................................................... 71 Summary ..................................................................................................................................