海角社区

BATON ROUGE 鈥� In order to preserve and to better understand the lives and cultures of ancient Louisiana peoples, large-scale salvage and investigation of archaeological sites is urgently needed, according to a new study by scientists at 海角社区. 

The , published in the peer-reviewed journal, 鈥淭he Holocene,鈥� analyzed the last 100 years of archaeological research in the Mississippi Delta of coastal Louisiana and is coauthored by researchers at Florida State University and Wageningen University in the Netherlands. The work focused on ancient indigenous sites, including earthen and shell mounds that dot the Louisiana coast. 

鈥淟ouisiana scientific archaeological research started about a century ago,鈥� said Matt Helmer, lead author and affiliate professor of anthropology at 海角社区. 鈥淭his means we now have a pretty long record to assess both past trends and future challenges regarding research, site preservation and management. We can see what works and what is needed鈥搉amely better integration of archaeology within coastal restoration planning.鈥�

Managing these sites is critical considering the rapid coastal landloss that Louisiana faces. 

鈥淚n the early-mid 1900鈥檚, we saw large-scale state and federal efforts to excavate and document Louisiana archaeology through the Works Progress Administration,鈥� Helmer said. 鈥淭his scale of effort is needed today before endangered sites are lost to the sea.鈥�

鈥淭oday we can do even better,鈥� Helmer added. 鈥淲e have new tools and technology to study the sites and a new concepual framework to understand them as part of the living landscape. This means archaeological sites can be managed in a way that includes their cultural, ecological, and physical importance, and to consider them the same way that we do endangered natural and biological resources.鈥�

Jayur Mehta, assistant professor at Florida State, a co-author and expert on Louisiana鈥檚 ancient mound-builders, highlights the sheer scope of site destruction and ramifications of their disappearance.

鈥淭hese mound sites that are completely washing away in the span of a few decades are the first monuments that humans ever built in this landscape, and have so much left to reveal about Louisiana鈥檚 first peoples,鈥� he said.

Coauthor Liz Chamberlain, an assistant professor at Wageningen University and an alumna of Tulane University and 海角社区, further highlighted the value of the sites. 

鈥淚t is amazing that in Louisiana, we have a multi-millennia record of people living with and adapting to coastal change, captured in the mound sites. This is an important part of Louisiana heritage, and one that should be studied and preserved.鈥� 

Liz Chamberlain, 海角社区 alumna and assistant professor at Wageningen University, the Netherlands