Los Adaes1721 to 1773

Learn about Louisiana’s Past through Archaeology

Los Adaes

French map of the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, 1701

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Los Adaes (A.D. 1721-1773)

Spanish fort in west Louisiana Served as capital of the province of

Texas from A.D. 1729 to 1768 Daily life on the frontier Rare cultural exchange between

Spanish, French, and Caddo Descendants of the people from Los

Adaes live in area today

Spanish Colonial soldier(San Antonio Missions)

French Colonial soldier(Canadian War Museum)

Caddo Chief(Homer Thrall)

Los Adaes

Los Adaes

Map of North America, 1757

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Mexico City

Los Adaes

Natchitoches

Timeline of events from A.D. 1400 to A.D. 1803

Los Adaes

A.D. 1400 A.D. 1500 A.D. 1600 A.D. 1700 A.D. 1800

LaSalle claimsLouisiana for France

A.D. 1682

St. Denis founds Natchitoches A.D. 1714Los Adaes is built A.D. 1721

Columbus in theNew WorldA.D. 1492

American Revolutionbegins A.D. 1775

de Soto expeditionin LouisianaA.D. 1542

Ponce de Leondiscovers Florida

A.D. 1513

Renaissance Periodbegins in Italy

A.D. 1400

Age of Enlightenmentbegins in Europe

A.D. 1700

Scientific Revolutionbegins in Europe

A.D. 1600

Pre-European Contact Period A.D. 1400-1500

Colonial PeriodA.D. 1500 -1803

Louisiana PurchaseA.D. 1803

Treaty of ParisRevolutionary War

ends A.D. 1784

Los Adaes

? Historical Records

Artifacts

What do they tell us

Los Adaes site drawn on aerial photograph

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Los Adaes

Architectural plan of fort at Los Adaes

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Los Adaes

Officers’ Barracks

Soldiers’ Barracks

Gun PowderHouse

Soldiers’ Barracks

Governor’s House

Chapel

Guard House

Crops

What Los Adaes looked like while in use

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Los Adaes

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) at Los Adaes

GPR data by Marco Giardino, John C Stennis Space Center

Los Adaes

Photograph by Jeff Girard

Excavation of a kitchen area at Los Adaes

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Los Adaes

Dry screening at tree stump (1996)

Water Screening (1996)

Screening for artifacts at Los Adaes

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Los Adaes

Los Adaes

Artifacts at Los Adaes (A.D. 1721-1773)

American Indians in area long before Europeans

Military and daily activities at Los Adaes

Cultural exchange between Spanish, French, and Caddo

Stone points from Los Adaes

Photographs by George Avery

Los Adaes

Paleoindian Period

Colonial Period

Spanish gun parts from Los Adaes

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Los Adaes

Vise Screw

Upper Vise Jaw

Lockplate

Frizzen

Photograph by Goerge Avery

French gun parts from Los Adaes

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Los Adaes

Photograph by George Avery

Drawing by Melinda Parrie

Spanish coin from Los Adaes

Photograph byDon Sepulvado

Los Adaes

French coin from Los Adaes

Los Adaes

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European glass trade beads from Los Adaes

Photograph by George Avery

Los Adaes

Trade between Indians and Europeans

Los Adaes

1 Musket = 30 deerskins5 ball shot with gunpowder = 1 deerskin 6 gunflints = 1 deerskin

1 belt knife = 2 deerskins 1 axe or 1 hoe = 8 deerskins 1 hatchet = 5 deerskins

1 large bell = 6 deerskins 6 small bells = 1 deerskin 1 metal bracelet = 1 deerskin

1 trade shirt = 8 deerskins 1 1/3 yards of cloth = 20 deerskins

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French ceramic(photograph by Don Sepulvado)

Mexican ceramic(photograph by George Avery)

Mexican (left) and French (right) ceramics from Los Adaes

Los Adaes

Caddo pottery piece from Los Adaes

Los Adaes

0 1 2 3 4 5

cmPhotograph by George Avery

Nearly complete Indian bowl from Los Adaes

Los Adaes

Photograph by Don Sepulvado

Religious medals (left) and charms from Los Adaes

Photographs by Don Sepulvado

Los Adaes

Everyday artifacts from Los Adaes: fork, thimble and scissors

Photographs by Don Sepulvado

Los Adaes

Iron nails and wrought iron hook from Los Adaes

Photographs by Don Sepulvado

Los Adaes

Los Adaes and Archaeology

Los Adaes

Texas Beyond History, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin

Los Adaes State Historic Site

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Los Adaes

Los Adaes1721 to 1773

This presentation is one in a series of modules about Louisiana archaeology. Each module has a PowerPoint presentation and associated student activities. The series is called “Learn about Louisiana’s Past through

Archaeology.”

This presentation is intended for educational use. Please use image credits where provided.

Please visit the Division of Archaeology website for additional teaching materials and educational resources at: http://www.crt.la.gov/archaeology/ (select Discover Archaeology).

Presented by:Louisiana Division of Archaeology

Office of Cultural DevelopmentDepartment of Culture, Recreation and Tourism

Office of the Lieutenant GovernorBaton Rouge, Louisiana

This project was made possible through the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of implementing the Louisiana Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for Hurricane Katrina recovery.

© Louisiana Division of Archaeology 2015