Outreach - Archeology and Collections

Hurricane Katrina and Traditional Places in Preservation Law

Morgan, David W., Nancy I.M. Morgan, and Brenda Barrett
2006 Finding a Place for the Commonplace: Hurricane Katrina, Communities, and Preservation Law. American Anthropologist 108(4):706-718.

<em>American Anthropologist</em> 108(4):706-718

Hurricane Katrina and its massive destruction drew attention to the commonplace markers on the landscape that create sense of place for a community. That connection between people and places that is crucial to peoples' sense of corporate and individual identity and heritage.

There is a legal context for sense of place within extant federal preservation legislation. Nevertheless, many places on the landscape that have special meanings for those who live there have been overlooked in the system of federal documentation that has the National Register of Historic Places as its cornerstone.

Grassroots efforts and national media coverage has helped forge a niche for sense of place within the recovery plans and policy emerging in the impacted region. However, at this time it is unclear if this will carry over into practice. In terms of long term policy shifts, remedying the shortcomings Katrina highlighted may require changes to the National Historic Preservation Act and its associated guidelines and regulations, or may entail a new approach altogether.

Southeastern Archaeological Conference Student Paper Prize

The Southeastern Archaeological Conference (SEAC) has hosted a competition each year since 1991 for the most outstanding paper submitted by a student about the prehistory, ethnohistory, or historical archaeology of the Southeast. This coveted prize consists mostly of books donated by publishers, universities, and private entities. Valued at over $4,000, it is the largest of its kind.

At the 2006 meeting NCPTT added to the prize with free tuition for any of the upcoming NCPTT training events, a $1785 donation based on last year's "Prospection in Depth." We would like to congratulate Mary Beth Fitts, of the University of North Carolina, as the 2006 winner with her paper, "People of the River, People of the Trail: Mapping Catawba Coalescence."

Professional Presentations

The Archeology & Collections program shares ongoing research and ideas with professional colleagues in a number of different venues. Most recent professional presentations by the program chief include those at:

2007

The George Wright Society Biennial Conference on Parks, Protected Areas & Cultural Sites, St. Paul, Minnesota.
2007 "An ICOMOS Ename Charter Perspective on Interpreting the History of the Cane River, Louisiana Region." (with Fiona J.L. Handley and Kevin C. MacDonald).

Institute of Archaeology, University College London, Abolition 2007 Colloquium, England.
2007 "Plantation Pottery along the Cane River: Colonoware and Ethnicity." (with Kevin C. MacDonald and Fiona J.L. Handley; attended and presented on personal leave time)

The Coincoin Plantation and African Architecture in Louisiana. (with Kevin C. MacDonald; attended and presented on personal leave time).

Society for Historical Archaeology Conference, Williamsburg, Virginia.
2007 "Prospection in Depth: The Educational Benefits of Fusing Geophysical Prospection Training with Mature Research Projects." (with Katherine Arntzen)

2007 "Contemporary Myths: Deconstructing the Late Colonial/Early American Creole Landscape at the Coincoin Plantation." (with Kevin C. MacDonald)

2006

Louisiana Archaeological Society Conference, Monroe, Louisiana.
2006 "Relocating the Architectural Roots of a Dynasty: 2005 Fieldwork at the Plantation Home of Marie-Therese Coincoin." (with Kevin C. MacDonald and Fiona J.L. Handley)

Contemporary and Historical Archaeology in Theory Conference, Bristol, England.
2006 "Things and Words--Bringing Together the Material and Historical Records of the Isle Brevelle, Cane River, Natchitoches, Louisiana." (with Kevin C. MacDonald and Fiona J.L. Handley)

Association for Living History, Farm, and Agricultural Museums Conference, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
2006 "Economics and Authenticity: A Collision of Interpretations in Cane River National Heritage Area, Louisiana."

Society for American Archaeology, San Juan, Puerto Rico. 2006 "Inadvertent Discovery of Human Remains: A Case Study from the Louisiana Army National Guard's Jackson Barracks, New Orleans."

Ename Center for Public Archaeology & Heritage Presentation International Colloquium, Ghent, Belgium.
2006 "The Dilemma of Legislating Traditional Cultural Properties in the United States: A Louisiana Case Study of Army National Guard Military Lands and the Hurricane Katrina Disaster." (attended and presented on personal leave time)

Public Presentations

The Archeology & Collections program also looks to share current information with a broad, public constituency. Most recent public presentations by the program chief include those at:

2007

Cane River Creole National Historical Park Symposium, "From Slavery to Freedom: Africans in the Americas", Natchitoches
2007 "Contemporary Myths: Deconstructing the Late Colonial/Early American Creole Landscape at the Coincoin Plantation." (with Kevin C. MacDonald)

National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, Natchitoches
2007 "The Architecture of Myth-Building: An Archaeological Perspective on Two National Register Properties Competing for the Same Historical Narrative." Paper presented to tour group from the Tulane School of Architecture.

2006

2006 "Relocating the Architectural Roots of a Dynasty: 2005 Fieldwork at the Plantation Home of Marie-Therese Coincoin." Lunch lecture presentation to the staff of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, Cane River National Heritage Area, Cane River Creole National Historical Park, and the Cultural Resource Office of Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Natchitoches. (with Kevin C. MacDonald and Fiona J.L. Handley)

2006 "The Ground Beneath Your Feet: An Introductory Tour of the Archaeological Landscape of Natchitoches." Paper and driving tour given in the Preservation Month Community Fair.

Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Natchitoches
2007 "Archaeology: Art or Science?" Paper presented at the Louisiana Scholars' College, Guest Lecture, SCTT 4000, "Arts and Science."

2006 "Geomatics and Recording Cemeteries as Built Environments." Paper presented in Heritage Resource Management, HPRE 4300, "Analyzing and Recording the Built Environment."

2006 "Introduction to Archaeology." Paper presented at the Louisiana Scholars' College, Guest Lecture, SCTT 1810-2820, "Text & Traditions I-IV: The Shaping of Western Thought."

2006 "Multicultural Interpretation and Stakeholder Involvement: The Case of the Coincoin Plantation in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana." Paper presented in Heritage Resource Management, HR 5010, "Exploring Heritage Resources."

2006 "Budgeting for the Laboratory and Analysis." Paper presented in Heritage Resource Management, HR 5220, "Heritage Resource Management Methods."

2006 "Surveying: A One Hour Synopsis of a 4,000+ Year Old Discipline." Paper presented in the Anthropological Society Lecture Series.