Historical and Archeological Investigations of Fort Bisland and Lower Bayou Teche, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana

A cultural resources survey was conducted of the Lower Bayou Teche project and portions of the Fort Bisland battlefield, located along Bayou Teche in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. Survey entailed auger testing, intensive pedestrian survey augmented with systematic shovel testing, marine and terrestrial magnetometer survey, metal detector survey, and archeological test excavationat identified sites. Seven archeological sites were identified during survey of the Bayou Teche area, and an eighth site, Bisland Battlefield (16SMY166), was examined. The identified sites include two antebellum plantation sites, four postbellum and early twentieth century plantation and small landowner sites, and, one twentieth century site. Two of these sites possess the quality of significance as defined by the National Register of historic Places. It is recommended that dredged material be confined to the southern edge of Luckland Plantation and the eastern third and southern edge of Avalon Plantation. The Bethel II site contains potentially significant deposits that are located just north of the proposed disposal area; special care should be taken to avoid this area. due to limited testing at Moro Plantation, it is uncertain as to whether the site is significant or not; if dredge disposal is confined to the area between the ridge and the lower half of the natural levee and Bayou Teche, the primary occupation area can be avoided.