I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeology Project

The Mobile River Bridge (MRB) Archaeology Project investigates and promotes the archaeology and history of the I-10 Bridge area.

From November 2021-June 2023, archaeologists excavated 15 sites in the Right-of-Way of the new bridge. These sites are historically significant and can add to our knowledge of the past. These sites span the entire history of Mobile Bay, ranging from Native American sites from thousands of years ago, to French and Spanish colonial occupations, to our most recent history. Much of the project area was part of the Down the Bay neighborhood in the late 19th- and early 20th centuries.

The I-10 MRB Archaeology project is interdisciplinary. Our archaeologists excavated sites in the field and currently analyze artifacts in the lab. Our historical research team provides insights into past lifeways through maps, city directories, census data, and other documents. The Down the Bay Oral History Project includes interviews with community members to tell a more recent story of the neighborhood. Together, these data sources tell the long history of Mobile Bay.

Follow us for updates, research highlights, and ways to get involved!

Weathering the Storm: The Archaeology of Hurricanes

Hurricanes have been part of life on the Gulf Coast for thousands of years. Through archaeology, we can better imagine how past populations experienced hurricanes. This online exhibit examines archaeological evidence of past storms from the I-10 MRB Archaeology Project. It also includes contributions from meteorologist Alan Sealls and Dr. Sytske Kimball of the South Alabama Mesonet.

Share Your Story: Down the Bay Oral History Project

The University of South Alabama McCall Library Oral History Team is recording stories about the Down the Bay community. They are creating a public archive of the histories that aren’t written. If you, or someone you know, would like to share your stories of Down the Bay, please call (251) 341-3900 or email oralhistory@southalabama.edu.

I-10 MRB Archaeology Project Blog

Follow our project blog for archaeology updates and highlights as we continue to uncover new information about Mobile Bay history.

Highlights from the Lab

Our team has uncovered hundreds of thousands of artifacts as part of the I-10 MRB Project. Follow our YouTube series as we highlight our most interesting finds!

Frequently Asked Questions

The Mobile River Bridge Archaeology Project is a collaborative effort between many partners. The archaeology is conducted by the University of South Alabama Center for Archaeological Studies and Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting. The Down the Bay Oral History Project is conducted by the Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library. The bridge project is conducted by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard. The project also involves input from Native American Tribes, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Alabama Historical Commission, and local governments and historical organizations.

Archaeology is the study of past human culture through the things that were left behind. Archaeologists investigate sites through careful excavation and recording. They study artifacts, which are typically portable objects, like pottery, glass, or stone tools. They also study features, which are archaeological elements that can’t be moved, such as fire hearths, trash pits, or structural remains. When available, archival research, oral histories, and environmental data contribute to archaeological findings. Combining diverse lines of evidence provides a more complete view of the past.

People have lived on Mobile Bay for thousands of years, so the archaeological record reflects that long history. In some of our project areas, we found evidence of pre-contact Native American use, like pottery or stone tools. In other areas, there were artifacts related to French and Spanish colonial occupations, like glass, ceramics, and nails. This area was part of the Down the Bay neighborhood in the 19th and 20th centuries. We consider anything over 50 years old to be historic, so we also recorded the homes, shops, and industrial structures that were located in the neighborhood until I-10 was constructed in the 1960s.

When artifacts are found on-site, their location is carefully recorded and they are bagged. The artifacts are brought to the lab at the University of South Alabama, where they are washed and sorted by type. Each artifact type is inventoried and analyzed. This artifact data helps answer questions about the lives of past people. The fieldwork and the artifact data will be written up in a report. Ultimately, the artifacts from this project will be stored in the curation facility at the Archaeology Museum, where they will be available for future research and museum displays.

The Mobile River Bridge and Byway is part of Interstate 10, which is a federal road. Federally funded projects require review under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Under Section 106 of the NHPA, agencies and other project participants must consider their impacts on historic properties. Historic properties can include buildings, districts, archaeological sites, and other structures. Once impacts are identified, they can be mitigated. If a significant archaeological site cannot be avoided, it is excavated. Once the information that makes it significant is recovered, the project can proceed. To mitigate the impacts from the construction of the Mobile River Bridge and Byway, our team is conducting Phase III excavation of the 15 National Register eligible archaeological sites in the project area.

Archaeological projects are typically categorized as one of three phases:

  • Phase I is a reconnaissance survey to identify archaeological sites in an area. It typically involves excavation of shovel tests.
  • Phase II is conducted when a project area has known sites but more information is needed to investigate them. Phase II is typically limited to collecting the minimum amount of data needed to evaluate sites for the National Register of Historic Places. Phase II often includes systematic shovel testing and limited excavation units.
  • Phase III focuses on data recovery and typically occurs when a site will be severely impacted. Phase III often involves the excavation of large block units. The goal is to recover the information that makes the archaeological site eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Historic Preservation Act protects our country’s significant historical sites. Section 106 of the NHPA ensures historic sites are considered before they are impacted by ground-disturbing projects. Protecting our historic sites has a number of benefits. It preserves the cultural character and feel of a place, generates tourism, and provides opportunities to learn about our past. Check out the Alabama Historical Commission’s website for more information about Section 106 in Alabama.

The archaeological excavations were conducted from November 2021-June 2023. However, artifact analysis will continue in the lab through 2024.