Kevin MacDonald curates new exhibition on Creole Origins

Cane River is a unique region featuring a Creole Community of mixed Native American, African, French and Spanish heritage. The most prosperous of such families can trace their ancestry to Marie-Thérèse Coincoin, a former slave of first-generation African parentage who ultimately became a plantation owner herself during the colonial period.

Over 20 years of archaeological research by the collaborative Cane River African Diaspora Archaeological Project - involving the UCL Institute of Archaeology, in co-operation with the American archaeologist David W. Morgan (US NPS) - was driven by questions about 18th century plantations in this region and how their architecture and material culture changed over time. Three of the properties studied by this project were owned by the Coincoin/Metoyer family.

Fieldwork was variously funded by the AHRC, British Academy, the Cane River National Heritage Area, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the US National Park Service Delta Initiative.

According to Kevin MacDonald:

“This has been a rare opportunity for the long-term study of related properties in a single region, all with known inhabitants of well-documented origins - including the enslaved populations. The results show – for example - the use of African building and culinary practices in colonial Louisiana, as well as elements of transformation in belief.”

The resultant exhibition, which will open at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in Natchitoches on 22 November, offers an in-depth exploration of the Cane River Creole culture, chronicling key decades of migration, cultural development, and the lasting legacy of this vibrant community. Artefacts and historical records never before assembled together are being put on display to share the origins and evolution of Creole identity in Louisiana.

Billy Nungesser, Lt. Govenor of Louisiana said:

“I’m excited that the Natchitoches community and visitors alike will have the chance to see these rare artifacts. We know how important northwest Louisiana is to the history of our state.”  

The exhibition, which is sponsored by the Cane River National Heritage Area, will be on display in Louisiana until March 2026 and will then tour other U.S. locations. It will be accompanied by a guidebook for students and the general public.

Images:  

• Header image: Reconstruction of Pierre Metoyer Plantation c.1790 (Drawing: Lauren Gibson, Archaeology South-East)
• Top right: Excavations of cistern mouth, main dwelling, Pierre Metoyer Plantation (Photo: K. MacDonald)
• Middle right: Bone Vodoun Disk c.1790-1810, Pierre Metoyer Plantation (Photo: K MacDonald)
• Bottom right: Early 19th century Caddo basket (NPS collections, Photo: P. Brevick)

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• Louisiana State Museums