Brad Laffitte
About your question on vegetation, I think you may need to go outside our
field and consult with botanical scholars. I'd suggest you start by
googling "invasive plants Louisiana."
Can't think of a publication on vegetative signals of historic
archaeological sites for the Southeast right now (although I'm toying with
the idea of writing one). This is something you can find for the Northeast
states , and in England, usually in the "Reading the Landscape" literature.
So, if you find something published for archaeologists for the SE, please do
let me know.
In Alabama when looking for early antebellum sites, I look for bulb plants
like daffodils in the spring, watermelon colored crepe myrtles, old
fashioned spirea and gladiolas. Also china berry or mulberry trees planted
in rows. Old fashioned roses and privet are also a giveaway but these
spread easily away from their original planting zone (thanks to the birds).
Same situation with Monkey grass type grasses, especially in flood prone
areas. Later 19th century sites, especially African American cemeteries in
my area seem to always have Trifoliate Orange (nasty barbed plant with
triangular stems, white flowers, and lemon like fruit). Also look for
periwinkle, English ivy and non native grasses - Although grasses are hard
to classify, especially for me since I'm in an old prairie belt with lots of
native grasses. Also look for osage orange trees, as these were planted as
fencing (like the roses and privet). Non-native wisteria is often an
indication of an old house site. I could go on and on about shrubbery, but
that could get boring.
Also, sometimes until the trees are cleared, many of these plants lie
dormant and don't appear until sun is reintroduced into the environment. Or
if you look up, you'll find an unusually tall fruit tree that is fighting
for the sun, but started life as a seed thrown away from a back step or in a
cemetery.
I suggest you try to find a regional garden historian who has written a book
on when various garden plants, shrubs and trees were introduced into your
area. Also, if you want an old but good read on this general approach with
examples from other regions of the U.S., you can't go wrong with a classic
book called "Reading the Landscape" by May Theilgaard Watts.
Also, to be really proficient at reading the historical landscape you have
to start thinking about plant communities and the ecological concept of
succession rather than just individual species.
Which proves that nothing is ever a simple as we would like it to be.
But here's something available on line that might be helpful.
http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/419.pdf
And do let me know if someone sends you a good source for the SE.
Linda Derry
Site Director
Old Cahawba
719 Tremont St.
Selma, AL 36701
ph. 334/875-2529
fax. 334/877-4253
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-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brad
Laffitte
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 5:21 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Vegetation and Historic Sites
All:
I am having trouble finding resources discussing vegetation commonly
associated with historic sites in the Louisiana area or the southeast U.S.
I've seen resources briefly discussing vegetation patterning (e.g., rows of
live oaks or non-native planted trees/shrubs may equal a homestead), but
nothing with respect to specific vegetation types that can be tied or
potentially tied to historic sites.
If anyone is aware of anything on this subject please let me know. My email
is [log in to unmask] Thanks.
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