Ackia and Ogoula Tchetoka: Defining Two Battlefields of the 1736 French and Chickasaw War in Southeastern North America. (3rd September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cobb, Charles R.; Smith, Steven D.; Legg, James B.; Lieb, Brad R.; DePratter, Chester B.
• Is Part Of: Journal of field archaeology. Volume 42:Number 5(2017)
• Page Start: 423
• Page End: 436
• Publication Date: 2017-09-03
• Subjects: American Battlefield Protection Program -- battlefield archaeology -- colonial wars -- Native American -- southeastern United States; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 930.105
• DOI: 10.1080/00934690.2017.1355175
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0093-4690

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Investigations into the location of two battles related to the Chickasaw and French Wars of the 1700s in Mississippi, USA, show the value of a multi-pronged strategy for identifying and delineating military sites. We used metal detecting, shovel test pits, surface collections, local informant interviews, historical maps, LiDAR-based topography, and air photographs to locate Ogoula Tchetoka and Ackia, two Chickasaw towns where French forces were defeated in 1736. Despite the ambiguity introduced by overlapping domestic occupations and other complicating factors, the weight of our complementary approaches demonstrates that Ogoula Tchetoka and surrounding battle features have been modestly impacted by modern developments, whereas Ackia has been largely obliterated by the construction of a residential neighborhood. Our ability to identify major landscape features related to the military history of these sites contributes to our understanding of the tactics and consequences of warfare between European powers and Native Americans in the Colonial era.