Archaeological fence

Most older homes in New Orleans are raised on concrete blocks due to the possibility of flooding.

Over many decades, objects find their way under the house: old bottles and jars, faucets, building supplies, tools, toys, combination locks, faucets, marrow bones, and random bits of plastic and metal.

Years ago, I visited a friend who had crawled under his house, excavated such objects, and attached them to his backyard fence. It was impressive display of quotidian artefacts.

During a recent visit to my partner in New Orleans, I conducted a “dig” under his house and created our own archaeological fence. Some bottles and jars dated to the late nineteenth century.

Gratitude to Joel Dailey for indulging my desire to play archaeologist and for letting me decorate his fence! Not to mention tolerating the dirt that came from this project . . .

All photos by Camille Martin