SUNY Binghamton will be conducting its 1999 summer fieldschool at the site
of French Azilum
MAY 24- JULY 2, 1999
French Azilum (36Br134) is the location of a late 18th and early 19th
century colony of refugee French elites.  Established in 1793, the town was
initially inhabited by gentry fleeing the French Revolution.  The refugees
were assisted by several wealthy Pennsylvanians who proposed a planned
settlement on a 1600-acre plot along the Susquehanna River that included
residences, shops, a schoolhouse and a theater.  Only 30 of the original 413
town lots were settled including a house allegedly constructed for Marie
Antoinette, La Grande Maison.  French settlers, servants, and African slaves
comprised the struggling community that, because of discontent and financial
troubles, began to disintegrate in 1803.  By 1810, historic records indicate
that very few of the original French inhabitants remained in the area.  Over
the years, French Azilum has been a subject of local legend and the property
has remained relatively undisturbed.  Presently, part of the original town,
including the site of La Grande Maison, are located on property owned and
administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and French
Azilum, Inc.
This field season, we will be excavating one of the known residences of an
elite French settler, Cottineau, and conducting limited testing at La Grande
Maison and well as testing for other elite residences.  Our goals are to
investigate the daily lives and activities of the French settlers and their
servants and slaves, who are relatively unknown from historic accounts.  Rob
Mann and Diana Loren, doctoral candidates in the Department of Anthropology
at Binghamton University, will serve as the field instructors.
For further information concerning admissions
and course registration, contact:
 
Rob Mann or Diana Loren
Department of Anthropology
Binghamton University
P.O. Box 6000
Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
(607) 777-2737
E-mail: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
 
 
Visit our web page at http://anthro.adm.binghamton.edu/fieldsch.html