Unearthing Coast’s history (Mississippi)

SUN HERALD ^ | Feb 8, 2009 | By KAT BERGERON

[Islander7]

The archaeological discovery of a French Colonial cross shows Hurricane Katrina both destroyed and uncovered history. When the storm swept away the popular Moran Art Studio in Biloxi, the exposed ground was then open for exploration and archaeologists found the cross.

That artifact will be on display during the three-day Mississippi Coast History Week observance, which begins Monday at Biloxi Community Center.

As the Coast celebrates its 310th birthday this week, it reflects a vast history of people, storms and events, such as the early-1700s land-grant scheme that likely brought the wearer of the cross. From the early Native Americans to the French explorers in 1699, from the Africans who felled lumber to the Irish who worked in hotels and the Slavs who netted shrimp, Coast history is far-reaching.

The two-inch, copper-alloy cross uncovered in 2006 brings Coast history full circle. It is also a rare find for the nation, which tends to overlook the Coast’s role in French Colonial times. The cross may be connected to a starving settler caught up in the infamous Mississippi Bubble.

Other History Week exhibits include examples of colonial life and displays by groups that came later, among them Vietnamese, Acadians and Jews. This 19th annual event is organized by the Mississippi Coast Historical and Genealogical Society, with other historical and heritage societies and Coast institutions participating.

“The idea is to get the Coast people talking about our culture and history,” said Mary Adkinson, a longtime historical society officer.

History Week is timed for the February 1699 anniversary of when Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville, flying the flag of France’s King Louis XIV, paved the way for European settlement.

From 1719 to 1722, when this Coast was the French Colonial capital, a Scot named John Law took advantage of France’s weakened economy to create a land scheme that lured several thousand Europeans who believed the vast New World colony abounded in gold and silver. Instead they found disease, sandy soil and few provisions.

Physical evidence of their presence is rarely uncovered, which is why the cross is such a find. The crucifix, conserved at Texas A&M along with wooden rosary beads and shroud pins, is housed at University of Southern Mississippi’s Department of Anthropology for research.

“On one side of the cross is Christ and on the other side is Mary, but what might surprise people is that both sides have the skull and crossbones, which likely signify Adam and Eve and new beginnings,” said Edmond Boudreaux Jr. of Biloxi, who will set up an archaeology display this week.

[Islander7]

The outline and discoloration of the early-1700s French cross found in Biloxi lies next to skeletal remains before it was removed from the Moran site in March 2006.


In May 2007 archaeologists unearthed more burials at the Moran Site, and the skeletons were about 5 feet below ground. The object between the two heads is a water pipe, installed years ago, that miraculously missed the skeletons.


The French cross, before it was cleaned, lies beside three rare wood rosary beads that can excite archaeologists even more than the rare cross. That’s because wood items typically don’t survive, and botanists at Southern Miss and Penn State believe these three survived because they were near the copper in the cross, which offered preservative qualities. These are thought to be of spindlewood indigenous to Europe.

[Islander7]

[Islander7]

You find this of interest.

[Islander7]

You may find this of interest. (it’s early)

[LRS]

I had considered more than once of adapting this old John Law political cartoon to "Uh"bama:

The caption (according to Wiki), reads:"The wind is my treasure, cushion, and foundation. Master of the wind, I am master of life, and my wind monopoly becomes straightway the object of idolatry. Less rapidly turn the sails of the windmill on my head than the price of shares in my foolish enterprises."

[blam]

In 1699 Daulphin Island was the Capital for all the Louisiana territories: (There is a plaque in Cadillac Square)

"February 1699 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iberville and Bienville pioneer the settlement of the North American Gulf Coast. They land on Dauphin Island at the mouth of Mobile Bay on their way to establish colonies in the Mississippi River delta in the name of Louis XIV. They are the first Europeans to enter the mouth of the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico. The French had begun colonizing the Illinois territory twenty years before.

[penelopesire]

Thanks for the ping. Very interesting stuff.

[SuziQ]

So interesting. I imagine there's lots of stuff under some of the old homes that had survived the Hurricane of 47, Camille, and countless other huge storms, but were destroyed by Katrina.

Biloxi was settled even before New Orleans, so there is a LONG history for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

[SuziQ]

Considering That One’s inauguration speech, I’d say that cartoon is absolutely spot on!

[SunkenCiv]

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[Pelham]

“Iberville and Bienville pioneer the settlement of the North American Gulf Coast.”

I have an ancestor who was a soldier with Bienville when they established New Orleans.

[SunkenCiv]

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