The French colonial presence in the southern United States and Caribbean shaped the history and development of these regions in unique ways. These case studies analyze and assess the French impact throughout this area. Using studies from French colonial sites in Maryland, South Carolina, the Gulf Coast, the lower Mississippi Valley, the Caribbean, and French Guiana, the contributors seek to reveal how French colonial life was both different from and similar to that of Spanish and English settlements, how it influenced the character of the communities, and how French identity was maintained in ... More

The French colonial presence in the southern United States and Caribbean shaped the history and development of these regions in unique ways. These case studies analyze and assess the French impact throughout this area. Using studies from French colonial sites in Maryland, South Carolina, the Gulf Coast, the lower Mississippi Valley, the Caribbean, and French Guiana, the contributors seek to reveal how French colonial life was both different from and similar to that of Spanish and English settlements, how it influenced the character of the communities, and how French identity was maintained in these locales. Subjects examined include French Hugenots in South Carolina, French colonial and creole cuisine and food technology, the broad concept of creolization, impacts of the French–Chickasaw War in Louisiana Territory, and the differences in plantation and slave practices among individuals in various French settlements. Featuring investigations into both urban and plantation settings, the book reveals the range of insights archaeological investigations can bring to a wide variety of historical milieux.