Four Native American Villages 1805 map and today.

In the limited experience I have had, I found that camps were of several types. I have hunted an area that was occupied by people who had 'high' water and 'low' water camps.

I would at least entertain searches in the areas you suggest, as I agree with the turning the map it does resemble the topo of today, and keep an eye out for high ground near one of your suspect spots. Hopefully there will be a plowed feild nearby and after a rain you may find some points exposed.

Just a thought.....
 

Interesting discussion.  Why does there appear to be a very faint mirror image of the river course, text, etc. appearing in the background of the old map?

Just curious.
 

Look at the fold marks on the old map. The faint mirror images hame to be from when the map was folded on itself.
 

Was part of an archaeological survey that found a village on the bend of a river. You would not have found it by searching the surface. No satellite image or even walking through the farm fields would have given you a clue. You have to dig.

Ask the farmers if they have ever discovered something while preparing the land.

It's also been my experience that metal artifacts only go to a certain time period. Depending on the date of the village you'd expect to find traded goods in metal. But prior to that the tools and daily use items are made of natural materials.

Whatever you do, get permission to be out there exploring. Be a guardian of the past.

Good luck.
 

This may also be a good area close to ya Dg39 :)
 

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Have you tired turning the map over on its back and then lining it up? Like a reverse image

I think I see the river match up when you do that, at least on the left side.
 

An interesting note to this. The first railroad west of the Mississippi and the second railroad in the United States went along the general line of this bayou in 1835 . Ralph Smith Smith (two last names) established this railroad to convey cotton and sugar cane from the large plantations to a port on the Red River at Alexandria, La. During the early part of the Civil war a Union report said that an antique steam engine was pushed into the bayou pictured.
(around 1863-4) It was never recovered. So some where in that twisting bayou lies the second commercial steam engine to run in the United States. Interesting isn't it?
I haven't been able to search the area because most of my time has been involved in writing a book that just got published.
I did visit a plantation home about 50 yards from the bayou and near one of the villages. The owner reported finding points and pottery shards in the woods over the years. So little time, so much to do.
Adding another point. This area contained the richest farm land in the south and some of the most interesting land owners of the early to mid 1800's. The land of the Dix.
Oh, and another thiing. Jim Bowie lived near here in 1817. I have records from an old trading post where he purchased a pen knife some tobacco and a hankerchief.. The whole area is loaded with history.

DG
 

Way to go on the research. If I were you I would run a metal detector wide open over that area.
You never know what you will find.
Here is stuff that was found by doing research on a old village from the 1830's.
 

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AG
I found a U.S. Militia button similar to yours about ten miules from the above map area and across the red river. Figured it belonged to a Battle of New Orleans veteran.
DG
 

Is this the end of the story Dig39? I was so intrigued, and then..............
Almost 5 years now. Tell us of the expeditions, we were sure to come!
 

Indians, I live on an old mound. Let me tell you a story. "In the beginning God created the heavens and Earth..." At one time the earth was covered in water. Volcanic actions created the mountain ranges. On what is now the North American continent The Appalachian Mountains were first and have been worn down and folded. as the water receded only the tops of mountains were visible. Fast forward to a thousand years ago: Anyone alive would have been at the top of what is now hills. All of the hills near water at one time or another had Indians living there at one time or another. My house is approximately 290 feet above sea level at the high point. Going out from the center about a hundred feet is another rise that probably circled the top. I say probably because the land was farmed and a road was paved through it, but you can still see the circular rise running around the mound. My brother lived on a mound and only from the air one could see it resembled an animal read, some say horse I saw deer.

Anyway Indians needed water for drinking, a place to stay dry and water to travel on. There were hunting trails, which may have become roads, but water was a means for the Indians to trade over long distances. Look for elevation and nearby water.

Enjoy the hunt,

Johnny
 

If you live in New Orleans, I guess you know about all the Indian sites in your area. Most are in the eastern part on Orleans Parish into St. Tammany and St. Bernard, you would need a boat to get to most of them.

Johnny
 

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Greetings all. I know this is a super old post, but seeing as I have just found this site it’s new to me.

I’m sure Heavy D hit the nail on the head with his post and that is exactly the portion of Bayou Boeuf the map is referring to. I took the time to orient the maps the same way and place them side by side for comparison.

What was interesting to me personally is this was a part of my mail route when I first became a mailman. So I drove this section regularly. At least the Chikamaw Rd portion of it which is the road that runs along the bayou.

Also of interest is that all the villages are on the west side of the Bayou. Obviously due to flooding. Bayou Boeuf seems to be the demarcation between the more hilly portion of Cenla and the flatlands that would have been the flood plains, especially as u move more northwest. I actually live about a 1/2 mile south of it a little bit further north and west from where this map shows.

Lastly, of some interest is that about 10 miles west of what’s labeled as the Pascagoula Village is the location of the town of Forest Hill which I have read was built upon an old Indian village. I can’t speak to the voracity of this statement, just passing it along.

Really glad I somehow stumbled across this site. I love all things old and treasured. And I can foresee many rabbit holes in my future similar to the one I fell down today upon reading this post.

Again, sorry for resurrecting such an old post but I found it fascinating considering how close it hit to home (literally and metaphorically). ✌🏼
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