An archaeological guide to the earliest French settlement on the northern Gulf Coast. Archaeological excavations since 1989 have uncovered exciting evidence of the original townsite of Mobile, first capital of the Louisiana colony, and remnants of the colony's port on Dauphin Island.



 

Gregory Waselkov is a Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Archaeological Studies at the University of South Alabama. He has written, edited, and contributed to several books, including Fort Toulouse: The French Outpost at the Alabamas on the Coosa, written by Daniel Thomas and his own A Conquering Spirit: Fort Mims and the Redstick War of 1813-1814.

"Waselkov's book is public archaeology at its best. . . . Whether studying post molds, middens, historic French maps, early 18th-century French diets, the significance of soil colors for defining house sites, doing flotation analysis, or bashing site looters who use metal detectors on historic sites, Waselkov weaves a wonderful, fact-based archaeological interpretation of Old Mobile (1702-11)--how it was settled, why it was settled, and how the French colonists interacted within regional as well as international economic spheres."--Southeastern Archaeology

"Written for the general reader, [Old Mobile Archaeology] summarizes the French period in Alabama, then discusses the economic and daily life of the colony, with information on town layout, architecture, diet, trade, and relations with the Mobilian and Tomés Indians. . . . Every student of Alabama history, from professional scholars to schoolchildren, will learn something from this concise and richly illustrated book."--Alabama Review

"A fabulous progress report from an important ongoing scientific enterprise."--Mobile Register