It is interesting that Anthony F.C. Wallace did some important studies of
the anthropology (i.e. ethnography) of human
disasters. I am not sure of the published source but I think it was the
impact of a hurricane or tornado.
Bob Schuyler
At 04:41 PM 9/5/2005, you wrote:
>Thanks, Dr. Schuyler, for saying that. I certainly did not intend to sou=
>nd callous, and I certainly do not feel callous toward the folks of the G=
>ulf Coast. I have an aunt in Biloxi, who, thankfully, is alive and well =
>in her own home -- it took us 3 days to find that out, and some family an=
>d friends are only finding out today, so it has been a hellacious week fo=
>r them. It has, as near as we can tell, been pretty hellacious for her, =
>as well, and she is among the fortunate "few" who are not dead, injured, =
>or homeless. The devastation is incredible at more levels than many of u=
>s can comprehend (and I number myself in that group, being so far removed=
> geographically), and Dr. Dawdy is both correct and right in urging us no=
>t to confuse professional "distance" with human empathy, or to replace th=
>e latter with the former.
>I will make no attempt to defend my statements, lest I appear callous aga=
>in. I will say, though, as I said in this same forum a few days ago, tha=
>t "as citizen anthropologists, we have the responsibility to bring what o=
>bjectivity we can to the social and cultural aspects of this awful situat=
>ion as it exists and as it unfolds before us, with the goal that ALL peop=
>le impacted by this disaster . . . are treated with appropriate dignity a=
>s humans."
>Please do not abandon archaeology on my account, or on account of the awf=
>ulness and aftermathof Katrina. It is not inhuman to be objective.
>=20
>=20
>Jeffrey L. Boyer, RPA
>Office of Archaeological Studies
>P.O. Box 2087
>Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504
>tel: 505.827.6343
>fax: 505.827.3904
>e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>=20
>
>________________________________
>
>From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY on behalf of Robert L. Schuyler
>Sent: Mon 9/5/2005 1:23 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Just a thought . . .
>
>
>
>I do not think that Boyer's comment was meant in that spirit. New Orleans=
>,
>of course, will not be abandoned. It will be rebuilt
>and reoccupied. It is fortunate that the historic district seems to be in=
>
>fairly good shape as that is the economic engine that
>will keep New Orleans going in the future. After things are back together=
>
>the SHA should give serious consideration to going
>to New Orleans for a future annual conference as soon as possible. We met=
>
>there once before (year?) and the historic city and especially the people=
>
>of New Orleans were wonderful.
>
> Bob Schu=
>yler
>
>At 02:21 PM 9/5/2005, you wrote:
> >I can't afford thoughts like this while people are still
> >stranded and dying in their attics as we write. See the local
> >paper's website www.nola.com, if you want to know how truly
> >horrendous the local scene continues to be.
> >
> >I don't want the analytical distance I bring to the study of
> >the past to carry over into how I relate to breathing human
> >beings in the present. But maybe that's just me.
> >
> >Callousness like this makes me want to abandon archaeology,
> >not New Orleans.
> >
> >---- Original message ----
> > >Date: Mon, 05 Sep 2005 09:29:15 -0600
> > >From: "Boyer, Jeffrey, DCA" <[log in to unmask]>
> > >Subject: Just a thought . . .
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > >Leaving aside personal feelings about The Big Easy (I think
> >it was Kris Hirst who said, early in this event, that New
> >Orleans is a city unafraid to reveal itself) . . . were it not
> >for abandonment, we archaeologists would have pretty much
> >nothing to do. Imagine how fascinating for our
> >great-great-grandchildren-in-the-field to examine the
> >historical records and the historical archaeology (and the
> >notoriety) of New Orleans. Imagine the archival and material
> >information on population movement and
> >absorption/assimilation. Please understand: not a death wish
> >for the city or its residents -- I would really like to sit in
> >the Quarter and eat barbecued shrimp and beignets (sp?). Just
> >a thought . . .
> > >
> > >Jeffrey L. Boyer, RPA
> > >Office of Archaeological Studies
> > >P.O. Box 2087
> > >Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504
> > >tel: 505.827.6343
> > >fax: 505.827.3904
> > >e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > >
> > >________________________________
> > >
> > >From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY on behalf of David Babson
> > >Sent: Sun 9/4/2005 10:17 PM
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >Subject: Re: Hurricane damage
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >I have seen several newspaper op-eds, and heard opinions from
> >a few
> > >associates (not archaeologists) that New Orleans SHOULD be
> >abandoned,
> > >because it is "not a sustainable city," being too low, and
> >that taxpayer
> > >dollars should not be wasted perpetuating a mistake begun by
> >the French
> > >(one of the usual suspects, of course) 300 years ago. They
> >do want to
> > >keep the port and the French Quarter (under a dome, and suitably
> > >Disneified, I presume), since the economy and its wealthiest
> > >beneficiaries MUST be served. After all, they were able to
> >skedaddle
> > >before the looting, and presumably will continue to be able
> >to do so,
> > >even when gas reaches $15.00/gallon. Leaving aside the fact
> >that much
> > >of this is the usual garbage from bigots and bluenoses who
> >have never
> > >liked new Orleans (too Black, too gay, too drunk, and,
> >probably, having
> > >too much fun), would a failure to rebuild New Orleans be a
> >sign of
> > >social recession, of the sort that accompanies a declining
> >society?
> > >This is one of the classic problems in archaeology, studying past
> > >social, economic and cultural collapses--classical Mediterranean
> > >civilizations in the early-to middle part of the first
> >millennium CE,
> > >the classic Maya, Norse Greenland, etc., and, of course, one
> >of the
> > >archaeological markers of these processes is abandoned
> >cities. This
> > >comes a bit too close to using archaeology in prediction,
> >something we
> > >pay lip service too, but generally avoid, as it is so
> >uncertain. But,
> > >if we come to seriously consider abandonment of the
> >30th-largest city
> > >(this is a city-limits population rank from 2000 census data from
> > >Google--I think the entire metropolitan area must be larger),
> >then where
> > >are we, as a nation?
> > >
> > >D. Babson.
> > >
> > >
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> >Behalf Of
> > >Robert L. Schuyler
> > >Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 4:09 PM
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >Subject: Re: Hurricane damage
> > >
> > >I want to second the "thanks" to Shannon Dawdy for an
> >excellent precis
> > >on
> > >what has happened in New Orleans and the region.
> > >I also think that some discussion of the disaster beyond
> >archaeology per
> > >se
> > >is not completely out of line in HISTARCH but
> > >Anita does have to rein us all back in now and then ...
> > >
> > >Back to Archaeology:
> > >
> > > (1) How many times since its founding has New
> >Orleans been hit
> > >by
> > >major hurricanes?
> > >
> > > (2) Do these events leave a recognizable trace in the
> > >archaeological record? I assume it would be mass
> > > dumping of buildings etc. in pits after
> >clean-up and
> > >rebuilding. A destruction layer?
> > >
> > > (3) Did major hurricanes cause real shifts in the
> >culture of
> > >New
> > >Orleans; that is, did the population as a
> > > result swing way up or down and did the ethnic
> > >composition
> > >of the city change as a result?
> > > [If I went through one of these "events" I
> >think I
> > >would,
> > >like General Butler, be headed back
> > > north.]
> > >
> > > Bob
> >Schuyler
> > >
> > >At 01:26 AM 9/2/2005, you wrote:
> > >> >From New Orleans North:
> > >>
> > >>The human tragedy is immense, and of course we must
> > >>immediately do what we can to stave it. It will take weeks
> > >>before we know what flooding has done, and the news reports
> > >>are spotty and hard to trust as to the extent and geography of
> > >>the water damage.
> > >>
> > >>However, the oldest notarial records are actually in a vault
> > >>on the fifth floor of a large office building and are probably
> > >>safe. Across the street in the basement were the late
> > >>19th-century through 20th century notarial acts, which may be
> > >>decimated, as would be the mortgage and conveyance books
> > >>dating from the 1820s that include a wealth of information on
> > >>slavery. Still, staff members did know the value of these old
> > >>dusty books and it is possible they had a couple hours to move
> > >>them to higher floors before they evacuated.
> > >>
> > >>Collections at Tulane, UNO, the Public Library and the
> > >>Louisiana State Museum are all elevated at least one tall
> > >>floor. The Historic New Orleans Collection was in the process
> > >>of building a new archive storage facility to protect their
> > >>collections, so I am a little worried about those. The State
> > >>Museum, which was badly funded to begin with, will be
> > >>hard-pressed to conserve their 10,000 irreplaceable 18th
> > >>century documents from the French period if there is water
> > >>exposure through window breaks or leaks. The best that could
> > >>be done in that case is to put political pressure on the state
> > >>to transfer custodial care. Same I would say with the Public
> > >>Library's wonderful collection (the building is modernist with
> > >>glass walls, so I am a bit worried).
> > >>
> > >>My understanding is that there was some ground-floor flooding
> > >>in the French Quarter and certainly some looting of contents,
> > >>but that most of the structures there stood up fairly well --
> > >>after all, they've been through quite a few of these. Same is
> > >>true of the Garden District. I am still waiting to hear
> > >>specifics, though, on sites such as Madame John's Legacy, the
> > >>Ursuline Convent, or Pitot House, which some of you have asked
> > >>me about.
> > >>
> > >>But little do people realize that the historic value of the
> > >>hard-hit lower 9th ward and the neighborhood of Holy Cross was
> > >>tremendous as an extensive community of small, lower income
> > >>shotgun houses from the 19th century largely spared the 'urban
> > >>renewal' of the 20th century. Still, I'd lose all those
> > >>houses again in exchange for one of the lives lost within them.
> > >>
> > >>Unfortunately, the political geography of the past will
> > >>probably dictate historic preservation in the future. Since
> > >>its founding, the wealthy in New Orleans have crowded their
> > >>estates and townhouses along the high ground of the natural
> > >>levees, leaving the swampy swales to the poor. So all those
> > >>mansions and fancy townhouses valued by tour guides and
> > >>blue-haired architectural boards are probably in relatively
> > >>decent shape, but they will also receive the lion's share of
> > >>reconstruction assistance.
> > >>
> > >>Many of the quaint cottages of the largely black 'back of
> > >>town'neighborhoods may be wiped out, either because they were
> > >>heavily damaged if next to the levee breaks, or because even
> > >>with minor damage they will be last on the list of priorities
> > >>for repair or preservation. But will anyone care? These are
> > >>not neighborhoods where tourists are funneled. And the human
> > >>loss there may make it difficult to focus on preserving a now
> > >>painful past.
> > >>
> > >>Archaeologically, floods caused by levee breaks actually help
> > >>protect urban sites unless they are actively being excavated,
> > >>so I can't really be concerned about those. Rebuilding efforts
> > >>will likely do greater damage than the hurricane itself. Great
> > >>loss, however, has probably occured in the Barataria, Lake
> > >>Borgne and barrier island areas due to the storm surge.
> > >>
> > >>All this talk of abandoning New Orleans, the "loss of New
> > >>Orleans" or its cultural heritage that I am reading in the
> > >>media is causing a second kind of heartbreak. We need hope,
> > >>ambition, and a hell of a lot of help, not pessimism and
> > >>abandonment. New Orleans, I think it is safe to say, is a
> > >>world heritage site and needs the world's assistance.
> > >>
> > >>Back in the early 18th century, the French talked of
> > >>abandoning New Orleans within 10 years of its founding due to
> > >>hurricanes and political-economic disasters (Katrina also
> > >>being a combination). And for all practical purposes, the
> > >>French government DID abandon New Orleans after 1735. But
> > >>people stayed, rebuilt, and prospered in their own way.
> > >>
> > >>Disasters and their aftermath are also a part of New Orleans'
> > >>heritage. It wouldn't be what it is without them. For most,
> > >>it has never been easy to live in the Big Easy. Their
> > >>creativity and improvisation in survival, as well as their
> > >>joie de vivre, is the city's real 'cultural heritage.' People
> > >>who have only visited Bourbon Street have no idea what has
> > >>been lost, nor have they ever really met the city that will
> > >>survive.
> > >>
> > >>-- Shannon Dawdy
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > >>Shannon Lee Dawdy
> > >>Assistant Professor
> > >>Department of Anthropology
> > >>University of Chicago
> > >>1126 East 59th St.
> > >>Chicago, IL 60637
> > >>773-834-0829
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>Forgive me if my messages seem crude and brief -- please
> >assume I am
> > >short
> > >>on time, not short of temper.
> > >
> > >Robert L. Schuyler
> > >University of Pennsylvania Museum
> > >3260 South Street
> > >Philadelphia, PA l9l04-6324
> > >
> > >Tel: (215) 898-6965
> > >Fax: (215) 898-0657
> > >[log in to unmask]
> > >
> > >
> > >This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential
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> >
> >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >Shannon Lee Dawdy
> >Assistant Professor
> >Department of Anthropology
> >University of Chicago
> >1126 East 59th St.
> >Chicago, IL 60637
> >773-834-0829
>
>Robert L. Schuyler
>University of Pennsylvania Museum
>3260 South Street
>Philadelphia, PA l9l04-6324
>
>Tel: (215) 898-6965
>Fax: (215) 898-0657
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intende=
>d solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are address=
>ed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system man=
>ager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only=
> for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should =
>not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.
>
>
>Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail, including all attachments is for the=
> sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and p=
>rivileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distri=
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>spection of Public Records Act. If you are not the intended recipient, pl=
>ease contact the sender and destroy all copies of this message. -- This e=
>mail has been scanned by the Sybari - Antigen Email System.=20
Robert L. Schuyler
University of Pennsylvania Museum
3260 South Street
Philadelphia, PA l9l04-6324
Tel: (215) 898-6965
Fax: (215) 898-0657
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