Archaeologists dig into Galveston’s layered past

Archaeologists collaborating with students at Texas A&M University at Galveston are revealing centuries of Galveston’s history at the Maison Rouge site, where artifacts ranging from the mid-1800s to Hurricane Ike are being unearthed from a single, intricately layered excavation.

LX Heritage, an archaeological nonprofit that engages with the public, and the university's Department of Maritime Studies have collaborated on the initiative. It additionally functions as a field school, providing students with practical training in documenting, preserving, and interpreting historic sites.

According to the organizers, the Maison Rouge excavation is notable for the diverse array of materials discovered in a single site, providing a condensed account of the island's transformation through conflict, natural disasters, and daily existence.

“It embodies the various layers of Galveston's history,” stated Annalise Dempsey from LX Heritage and Texas A&M Galveston in an interview with KGTX 7. “An Ike destruction layer is visible.” We have discovered iron shot, potentially dating back to the Civil War, butchered bones from earlier inhabitants, and artifacts from both World War II and the mid-1800s.

These discoveries enable researchers to trace the transformation of Galveston from a 19th-century port city through significant national conflicts and into contemporary times. Objects such as iron shot indicate potential military involvement, whereas food and domestic items provide insights into residents' lifestyles and labor over time.

The site serves as a valuable resource for students, extending beyond a mere research project. It is a classroom without walls, where students learn excavation techniques, catalog artifacts, and interpret historical evidence in real time. Faculty members assert that such experiences are challenging to reproduce in a conventional lecture environment and are crucial for preparing the next generation of archaeologists and maritime historians.

The project concluded its January field season with a community day that welcomed the public to the dig. Residents and visitors had the opportunity to observe archaeologists in action, engage with them through questions, and examine some of the artifacts being unearthed, thereby reinforcing the connection between the research team and the community whose history is under investigation.

According to organizers, public involvement plays a crucial role in LX Heritage’s mission, ensuring that archaeological efforts remain transparent and that discoveries are communicated to those most impacted.

The artifacts gathered at Maison Rouge will now undergo cleaning, cataloging, and analysis as part of the ongoing research into the development of Galveston. Researchers anticipate that the results will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of how the island endured war, hurricanes, and economic shifts while safeguarding its cultural heritage for future generations.