Cultural Resources Investigations of South Pass of the Mississippi RiverPlaquemines Parish, Louisiana

摘要

This document presents the background research, field investigation and findingsfrom a cultural resources study of 16PL49, 16PL62, 16PL63, 16PL123 and 16PL130 at the South Pass of the Mississippi River. The work was conducted for the New Orleans District Corps of Engineers to identity and evaluate cultural resources in the proposed Corps dredge material disposal areas. Overall, survey was carried out over 943 terrestrial acres. A marine survey was also undertaken to identify anomalies that may represent potentially significant underwater cultural resources. The marine investigations found evidence of wells, possible shipwrecks, possible remains of the outer east jetty. possible remains associated with the Pilot Station and unknown magnetic anomalies. The integrity of these finds could not be evaluated at this stage. The Port Eads community was established when the government contracted with James B. Eads to construct jetties at South Pass to increase navigability of the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico to the port of New Orleans. 16PL49 and 16PL62 are remains from historic Port Eads, a nineteenth and early twentieth century community. 16PL63 consists of five sets of pilings. Four of these are presumed to be associated with World War II gun emplacements, whereas the filth appears to have been associated with a structure that was destroyed sometime before 1961. 16PL123 is the former location of the Bar Pilots' House and Coast Guard station; both structures are no longer extant. 16PL130 consists of the remains of Eads' jetties as well as later modifications to the historic jetties. 16PL49, 16PL62 and 16PL130 represent the historic occupation of Port Eads and the engineering achievement of the jetties.